SPRING 2011 STUDENTS: STOP HERE! EVERYTHING BELOW THIS IS OLD.

stop here! don't answer any questions below this!

--john 3/16/11

Teen Pregnancy

Why do many teens today think it's okay to have babies at a young age, such as 16 or 17? Is this a big problem in our society? How long do you think teenagers should wait to have kids?

For more information, please visit this site.

http://www.mainstreetmom.com/par_babes_have_babes.htm

Thanks.

Darrian Carter (noon)

Black Women . . .

Do you think black women are degraded and stereoptyped by negative statistics?
Examples:
Most black women are loud and ghetto.
Most black women need welfare.
Most black women drop out of school and have kids too early.

Do you think it's fair that just about every African American woman other than Oprah and Michelle Obama are grouped together and stereotyped negatively?

Do you think it's fair that a black woman can't run a company or become CEO unless the company is black owned? "A black woman has zero chance of rising up through the ranks to the top of a white company no matter how hard she works or intelligent she is."

Do you agree with this statement?

If you view this issue as a problem in our society, can you think of any way to solve it?

Thanks for your thoughts on this!

Martina Harvey (noon)

Stars or the real world

Is it right that every time we turn on the television six channels are reporting Lindsey Lohan going to jail but the soldiers who die overseas go unnoticed by the general population? Why is it that American society is so obsessed with what their favorite celebrity is doing instead of what's happening in the world? Do you see this as a problem?

Dylan Yeazel (noon)

Is steroids cheating?

When most people think of steroids they think it is down right discussing. They think people take steroids and they magically become sports god, a sports god that cheated. Well the thing is steroids doesn't make you connect with a baseball nor does it make you drain a three pointer. It does make you stronger and lets you have more endurance. But lets say you take a batter on steroids and place him against a pitcher on steroids now doesn't that even the playing field. Also say every professional athlete in every sport was on steroids, think of how barbaric sports would be, and how competitive people would be trying to break unbreakable records. Would it not make golf even interesting to watch, heck it may even make figure skating interesting, but lets not push it. If an athlete wants to help better there carrier, they take steroids to help them. By them doing that they know the effects it has on there body and the consequences they will have to deal with if they get caught on them. So should steroids be aloud in professional sports? Would it make sports more interesting?

Micah Pope (noon)

Media Consumption

Facebooking. Twittering. We all do it. But how much time are we spending on online chatting, txting, computer games, TV, and Xbox? Every waking minute--and now, even in school and at work.Today in America, kids and teens between the ages of 8 and 18 spend roughly seven and a half hours a day consuming media. Do we always turn to media as a way of spending our free time? Is this healthy? Are the parents to blame? Should they be doing more constructive things with their time? Many kids growing up have a decreased vocabulary and social skills as a result of over consumption of everyday media. What ever happened to reading and writing? How much time do you spend consuming the media, and how do you think it affects you?

Charlotte Brannon (8:00)

Long-distance loving?

Can a long distance relationship work?

What do you think are the potential drawbacks of having a long-distace relationship? Are there any positives about them--are they in some ways better than relationships where you see the person every day, or several times a week? Do you know of any long-distance relationships tha have worked? Have you ever been in one yourself?

Curtina (8:00)

Is It Fair????

So, you were brought to a different country when you were just a child; you learned the language, the culture, the way of being. You grow up feeling like you are from that country, respecting and following the laws like most other citizens should. You also have these god-given abilities in that you out-perform most people in athletics and in the class room.

When you get an offer for a scholarship, like any young person you take it with dreams of giving yourself a great life. At the climax of your excitement, the school calls you and tells you that because you are not born in the country you reside in, they are taking the scholarship from you.

Is it fair for them to take the scholarship from you? You work as hard as anyone else and out- perform most people, and you did not cheat. Why are they allowed to take the scholarship back?Because of politics? It was not your choice to be brought to this country, so is it fair that you must pay a penalty?

Aaron Vega (8:00)

Is fast food really worth it?

How many times a week do you eat fast food? These days, more children under the age of 10 can identify any fast food character before they can identify any historical figure. Most adults are setting their kids up for health issues by taking them to fast food restaurants a couple times a week. Children get addicted to the sugar, caffiene, fat, and salt used in the food products. The more fast food you eat, the more weight you will gain. So, are your children gaining weight because of the food you are feeding them? As the children grow older, they will still be addicted to the products used in the so called "food." They will also more than likely develop health problems like heart disease or obesity, both of which can lead to a death from heart attacks.

What are your views on this? Do you think most (some) people eat way too much fast food? How often do you yourself eat at McDonalds, Burger King, KFC or other fast-food chains? More than 3x a week? More than 5x a week? Never?

Finally, do you have any idea which fast-food chains are the least healthy and which the most most healthy?

Macy Shupe (8:00)

Should Truckers have their own Lane?

We all hate that moment when we have to get past the long, scary semi that takes up all of its lane and sometimes more . . . well, what if us little cars and trucks had an extra lane to get past without having to get run off the road or worse?

I know that some interstates (near big cities) have lanes designated for cars and small trucks only, so why not expand on this idea and make most interstates much more safe for driving?

This idea might sound silly or unrealistic to some, mainly because we spend so much on the interstates already, but what if this extra lane saved lots of lives? What if we could reduce that 4% of truck-driving related accidents that lead to deaths just by adding another lane on all interstates?

I chose this question because I travel.. A LOT.. and it's scary when I'm trying to get past a semi and they start to come over in my lane. Or when it's pouring down rain in the dark, and it's really windy, and driving is already super dangerous--do we really need 18-wheelers blowing by us at 70 mph to make conditions even more hazardous?

Your thoughts on this? Thanks!

Alex Segobiano :)

HYPNOSIS

Have you ever been hypnotized? Do you believe in it? Do you think hypnosis can be a reputable form of therapy? Can it be used more throughout the world to help people get over their addictions to food, smoking ,and all the many fears people are faced with today?

Jessica Ervin (8:00)

Should you be judged by the clothes you wear?

Should you be judged by the clothes you wear? It happens daily. Say if you're going into a public place and you're wearing baggy clothes, people tend to look at you differently, don't they? Or you could be wearing all nice clothes, but you got a hat or something like that--people are still judging you, regardless, don't you think?

I don't understand why it goes on so much, but it does. Probably more than we even think. Who knows--even your closest friends could judge you, say, if you change your clothing style or something like that.

So, is this a problem? Should people be judged by how they dress? Isn't this a free society where people are at liberty to dress as they wish without being judged or discriminated against? If you think this is true, where do you draw the line? What if someone dressed in swastikas and other Nazi garb? Is that okay, or no? What if girls choose to dress in very short shorts and and low-cut shirts? Should they be judged for that? How about if someone insists on wearing the same clothes every day of the year without ever washing them? That okay, or should it be?

Thanks for your help.


Kevin Hays (noon)

Dealing with Your EX . . .

Why do some people still deal with their ex's? (calling them, having sex with them, spending time with them). In what way is an ex an ex if you are still sleeping with him/her? How do you keep an ex from affecting your current relationship?

How do you get over an ex? Do you try to stay friends with your ex? If so, what goes along with that friendship?

Tavaruss Townsend (Noon)

punishment or child abuse?

Some people think it's alright to hit their child any kind of way to discipline them. Others say that there are a lot of disciplinary actions that you can do to let a child know that what they did was wrong. After disciplining them, you can tell them why they were wrong and why you chose the disciplinary action that you did and tell them what will happen to them if they do it again.

So do you think that punishing children by spanking them is all right? Is it okay to use a belt? When does discipline cross the line and become child abuse? How do you plan to discipline your children?

Sierra (noon)

DUI

The term DUI makes me think of the end of the line. I would think that it is very hard to get around to your job and friends after getting a DUI. If you do get one, I know you cannot have a CDL license or a Foid card, which for me would be really horrible because I am a hunter (a Foid card is like your license for a gun), and I do want to be able to drive a semi and have a CDL.

So what I am asking is when you hear the term DUI, what does it make you think of? How inconvenient would it be for you to get a DUI? Why do you think people risk getting a DUI by driving drunk even when they know the penalties awaiting them if the are caught?

Are you aware what the penalties are exactly for getting a DUI?

Tyler Farmer (noon)

Is too much alcohol taken seriously enough?

I was once a very heavy drinker and a heavy smoker. I have also used chewing tobacco regularly in the past, so I know the effects of both alcohol and nicotine and I am well aware of all of the risks associated with both of them. It annoys me that there are all of these smear campaigns for tobacco (especially cigarettes), yet alcohol is glorified in our culture. All of the ads for alcohol depict people having a good time at parties, or tailgating, hunting, or say that "he is the most interesting man in the world" and completely ignore the dangers of drinking. Sure, they say that one should drink responsibly, but there really aren't any disclaimers about the dangers of drinking, even if it is in moderation. My point is that tobacco users, for the most part, are only harming themselves, while drunkards put the everyone's lives at risk when they decide to drive, operate machinery, or show up to work drunk or hung over. I also believe that DUI laws and punishments should be harsher. Alcohol related accidents are a leading cause of death in America and around the world, yet it is glorified and treated as a social norm. I believe that alcohol should be taxed just as much as, if not more than, tobacco because it is just as dangerous. Do you agree or disagree? Please explain you reasoning.

Kevin Farnum (8:00)

Can we really go green as a country?

First, for info that might be helpful before answering my question, check this site:

http://home.wanadoo.nl/f.j.doorman/07Env.htm

Now my question . . .

Can America afford to go green? Americans are driven to buy new appliances, heaters, air conditioners, refrigerators that are energy efficient in an effort to save energy, gas, and natural resources. E-85 fuel-efficient vehicles, hybrid cars, and hybrid luxury SUVs are part of the new craze in buying efficient cars. As part of the stimulus package of 2010, citizens were offered tax breaks on buying new appliances that are energy efficient to reduce our dependency on foreign oil and energy suppliers. My question is: Is this a good idea for the economy? For our ecology? For both?

What do you see as the main benefits to going green? What will happen if many companies and individuals stubbornly refuse to get on board with the green movement? Do you think the world's governments need to play larger roles in establishing and enforcing regulations on factors that affect the environmment? For instance, in 2007 (the latest data available), the U.S. and China were responsible for 42% of all the world's greenhouse emissions. Third and fourth on the list are India and Russia, who emit only 5% each. Does this mean the U.S and Chinese governments must crack down harder on companies responsible for emissions harmful to the earth's environment?

Jesse Hill (8:00)

schools need to be concerned about their students

Everday teens are being bullied by their classmates at school and no one even tries to help them. They just stand there and watch them get beat up in the hall ways; they don't think to go to the principal or a teacher. Some students don't realize that bullying can hurt people, not only physically but emotionally too. Sometimes bullying can cause suicide if it gets too extreme. Bullies don't only hurt others in school but they also hurt them outside of school too.

Teachers and other school staff need to be more observant about the students.

Should schools be more concerned about their students being bullied? What do you think can be done about bullying in schools? Were you ever bullied, or were you ever a bully, in school? What do you think causes bullying in most cases?

Hillary Moore (noon)

biggest lesson learned?

If you die today, what will be the biggest lesson that you have learned? I often hear people--my mom, mainly--talk about the world ending in the year 2012. If that really does happen (and I know it probably won't!), on your dying day which lesson in your life would you call the most valuable, and why?

Another way to ask this question is, on your death bed, if you have one piece of advice to pass on to your children, what would it be?

Thanks!

Demario Jordan

Driving while distracted. (DWD)

With cell phones becoming more and more popular, driving is becoming more and more dangrous. 25% of all car accidents are caused by talking on the cell phone. A cell phone can be more dangrous than drunk driving. 4 out of every 5 accidents (80%) are attributed to distracted drivers. In contrast, drunk drivers account for roughly 1 out of 3 (33%) of all accidents nationally. Texting while driving is about 6 times more likely to result in an accident than driving while intoxicated.

Teens and cell phones.

Despite the risks, the majority of teen drivers ignore cell phone driving restrictions. Talking on a cell phone while driving can make a young driver's reaction time as slow as that of a 70-year-old. 56% of teenagers admit to talking on their cell phones behind the wheel, while 13% admit to texting while driving. Each year, 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage. This result has been expected to grow as much as 4% every year.



Do you use cell phones while you are driving?

Do you think cell phones cause a risk in a car?



Scotty Johnson (noon)

Does music make you smarter?

Please check out this link before you answer:
http://aaapianosvc.com/MusicMakesOneSmarter.aspx

Are students who play a musical instrument smarter than the average student? Do you think that playing an instrument when you are young makes you more capable of doing well in school? Why or why not?

Thanks!

Melissa (noon)

STOP HERE!

FALL 2010 students. Don't answer any questions below Melissa's music question. All of these below this are old ones!

--JOHN

Underage Drinking

“Too many Americans consider underage drinking a rite of passage to adulthood,” says former acting surgeon general Kenneth Morisugu. Research shows that young people who start drinking before the age of 15 are five times more likely to have alcohol-related problems later in life. But from 2001-2007, youth exposure to alcohol product advertising on T.V. rose by 38%, and in 2007 approximately 1/5 of all alcohol products ads. on T.V. were on T.V. programming for which viewers' ages are between 12 and 20.

So my questions for you . . . are children overexposed to alcohol advertising? What can be done to help children not start drinking until they are of legal age?

Thanks!

Melody Nelligan

Is being gay really all that bad?

Is being gay really all that bad? Why is loving someone of your own gender seen as comitting a deadly sin? I believe that many people have no self-control over who it is that they're attracted to. Just because it is seen as right in the eyes of so many people to date one of the opposite sex does not mean to shun another for being an individual and doing what it is they feel is right. So why judge them for being different?

What is your take on this? Loving someone of your own gender--Is it really wrong? Do you think people have a choice to be gay or not?

Quantia Braziel

Video games--Good or Bad?

Are video games good or bad for our kids? Being a gamer myself, I would say they can be good, but only to an extent. They keep your hand-eye coordination up, and now the military is starting to use the controllers to fly unmanned aircraft into battle.

What is your take on this? Should the games children play be cut back on hours playing, or do video games help in some way?

Mike McClure

Should Drug Controls Be Reduced?

There are some people in America who feel the government should reduce restrictions placed on certain prescription medications. To get any kind of prescription medication today a person has to go see a doctor and get that doctor to write a prescription for them. This obviously places liability on the doctor and thus the doctor may be reluctant to prescribe certain medications without a thorough exam or as part of a step-up treatment plan. For some (those with good insurance) this isn't an issue. Good insurance can make doctors accessible and inexpensive. For those without insurance, this approach can be really restrictive.

The advent of the internet now puts more information than ever into an individual's hands. A person can look up their symptoms, find a likely diagnosis, and create a common treatment plan in minutes, rather than waiting perhaps days for a medical appointment. The a major downside to this approach is when symptoms are less obvious or might be indicative of a more obscure or far more serious illness. Also, treatments involving prescription drugs are obviously restricted for people who would diagnose and treat themselves.

The sentiment generally goes, "Drug laws aren't in place because of you or me. They're in place for the rest of society, who would find ways to harm themselves otherwise." Obviously, some drugs would have to be restricted in any case. Narcotics have too much potential for abuse, and antibiotics, if overused, could create drug-resistant bacteria. Besides those two classes of drugs, there are many drugs out there that may significantly improve people's lives but are hard to access.

My question is: do you think that controls on prescription drugs are too restrictive? Should individuals be allowed more freedom to make decisions that affect their own lives, or does government hold a responsibility to protect the individuals in society who might potentially harm themselves if drugs controls were removed?

David Nadermann

Overpopulation

Are we over populated?

How much is too much?

It begins growing very slowly, but over generations the growth rate increases more and more rapidly, similar to a snowball effect. It took the human population thousands of years to reach 1 billion in 1804. However, it took only 123 years for us to double to 2 billion by 1927. The population hit 4 billion in 1974 (only 47 years), and if we continue at our current rate, the human population will reach 8 billion in 2028. Doubling from our present count of 6.8 billion to 13.6 billion will have a much greater impact than our last couple doublings combined.

Will we run out of resources? Do you envision other problems caused by overpopulation on the earth?

Mohammed Ahmad

Health in America

An alarming percentage of Americans are currently considered overweight or obese. Is this a problem? Why or why not?

How do you feel about implementing a more serious p.e. time in class (rather than walking in circles)? Any comments on the cafeteria food you have experienced in your student life? Healthy? Not so much?

Matt Funk

Abortions in Illinois

There are many contraceptives in the world today that help prevent pregnancies, but there are still thousands of abortions being preformed.The Department of Public Health reported the abortion rate in Illinois to be 47,717 in 2008, which has actually dropped in recent years. Do you think this rate is too high? There are some women who have had over two abortions--are they abusing their right of legal abortions?

Brittany Williams

Porn on the Web

All over the world teenagers and young children who have internet access have a wide variety of porn at their disposal. The websites have no security, so all you have to do is click a button that says you are eighteen and you're in. You can put parental locks on a computer, but the internet is forever doing new things and a lot of parents still have not caught up to technology. A good part of the web is porn whether it be a sex website or some teen posting sensual pictures on their Facebook or Myspace pages. Do you believe there should be more restrictions placed on the internet, or should we trust our children to do the right thing?

Julius Ervin

Everyone wants to be loved!

What do men and women truly want from each other in a relationship?

What is considered cheating in a relationship? Once that line is crossed do you stay or leave?

S.Cooper

Legal Marijuana

As of late 2009, there are 14 states such as California, Oregon, Washington, Maine, Nevada, Colorado, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Vermont that allow the use of legal, or medical marijuana in their state lines. There are bills out there trying to be passed to allow all states to legalize marijuana. In California, a vote has been passed to actually have the citizens vote whether or not they want it legalized or not. Do you feel like this is a good idea for our country to legalize a drug? Some say it will bring our country out of debt, others say it wont. Other people think that crime rates will go up or maybe lots of drug wars will stop going on. Can this benefit our country by passing this law?

Kevin McBride

Who's a Ho?

Who says females can't have multiple sex partners like males? Is it right for a man to have sex with various women and get called "a player," but when a woman has intercourse with more than one male they are known as a "ho." Why is it that women get judged for their sexual life and get called names for doing the same thing that men do?

Think about how males and females are raised at home. Many parents thinks it's okay for their son to have sex, but when their daughter is having sexual intercourse, it's a major problem! Why is that?

Do you think there's a double standard for men and women when it comes to having sex? Do you think this is fair? Why or why not?


Whittney Motley

Bullies

In the United States, bullying among children and teenagers has often been dismissed as a normal part of growing up. About 30% of teens in the United States (over 5.7 million) are estimated to be involved in bullying as either a bully, a target of bullying, or both. Do you think people have taken bullying too far? What can schools do to stop bullying? What can you do to stop it?

Aubrey Welch

Child shooting deaths

According to the most recent statistics, 50 children are killed in the U.S. every week by gunfire (over 3,000 children a year). What can be done about child shooting deaths? In your view, how big a problem is the death of children by firearms in this country? What do you think is the primary cause of this problem?

Check out this site: http://www.neahin.org/programs/schoolsafety/gunsafety/statistics.htm

Thanks for your help.

Tracey Boswell

Supreme Court Overrules Gun Ban

The Supreme Court recently ruled that the constitutional right to gun ownership applies nationwide. This ruling came in response to a court case challenging the gun bans in the Illinois city of Chicago and Oak Park, one of the suburbs there. Chicago Mayor, Richard M. Daley, has promised to soon push for a new ordinance regulating handguns in the city in spite of the Supreme Court decision.

What are your thoughts on the Constitutional right to bear arms? Should common citizens in fact retain this right? Should registration of firearms be required? Should the ‘right to carry’ provisions be expanded or encouraged? Should handguns have different rules than other firearms?

Should assault weapons be allowed? What about enforcement against illegal arms possession?

The Supreme Court decision opens a vast can of opinion. Explain how you feel about this decision.

Joann Logsdon

Teenage Pregnancy

Can teens make good parents? There is a rise in teenage pregnancy; they have even made a show called "16 & Pregnant" to try to show teens how hard it is having children. How can they pay for it, do they know what kind of life they are getting into, are they emotionally ready, what is this going to do for their future?

I'm a teen mom; I had my daughter when I was 18. Only 2% of teenage mothers get a 2 year degree, 11% of mothers in the United States are teenagers, 82% are accidental, a child of a teen mom is more likely to be a teen mom themselves.

Are teenagers ready for the responsibility of raising a child? If you think they are not, what can be done to decrease the number of teenage pregnancies?

Sarah Albin

Cutting Education Budgets

An education is an essential necessity for all people to have. All over the United States our government is making drastic budget cuts in our education system. Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed cutting $680 million from the education budget, and is also asking schools to make cuts around $1.4 billion near the end of the school year. Should the government be making such large budget cuts, or even making them at all?

Kenneth East

Does it matter if you have a tattoo or not? Could you still get a job with tattoos? People always tell me that if you get tattoos that you will not be able to get a job. I think it is great to be able to get a tattoo if you really think its cool. I have four tattoos, and my friends and family all think that having my tattoos will affect me in the furture. But does it really matter if you have tattoos? Do employers really look at the fact that you have tattoos?

ASHIA STEVENS

Trust your government?

Cancer is the second largest reason for death, and in 2007 alone 7.9 million people all around the world died of cancer. By 2030 it is estimated that the number will be 11.5 million.

Considering that people like you and me know these facts, then the government must know them as well. Do you think that the government is hiding things from average, everyday Americans, such as a cure for cancer? If so, why? And if you don't, then what is it that makes you put so much trust in the idea that our government does everything they can to make life safe for us?

Samantha Tomson

Cell Phones

Illinois is one of the 24 states to have a law against texting while driving. Should we make texting while driving illegal in all states? Should we make a law in all states against using a cell while driving? We hear more and more each day about people having accidents, or causing accidents that take the lives of others, due to using a cell phone while driving. What can we do better to convince people of all ages that using a cell phone while driving is dangerous? How would it affect you or your family if you or someone in your family killed someone while talking or texting on a cell phone?

Dawn Smith

Creationism or big bang?

Many of us have a view on how the world was created. What is your view? Do you think that God really created Earth? If so, do you think He created the entire universe? Scientists believe that our universe came into existence as a result of an explosion, a "big bang," and that our universe continues to expand, but this belief directly contradicts what you read in the Bible.

So how did we and other living creatures end up on this planet? Is there persuasive proof to either side of the argument between creationists and scientists?

Samantha Odendaal

A better environment and a better future?

Do you feel that we have a healthy environment?

It has been proven that hybrid vehicles are good for the environment. Do you believe these cars can help towards a better future? If you were forced to only be able to buy a Hybrid vehicle (an electric/gas) would you be opposed to it? Why?

Do you recycle or just throw away your trash in a garbage can? How about Styrofoam, for example? Did you know that Styrofoam not only holds in more heat, but by using it for insulation in your house, it will also lower the cost of your utility bills?

What can we do to make our lives more environmentally friendly around us and our homes?

What would you be willing to do knowing you would be able to have more cash if you were more environmentally friendly?

Cameron Smucker

STOP HERE

SUMMER STUDENTS: DON'T ANSWER ANY OF THE QUESTIONS BELOW--THEY ARE OLD ONES.

JOHN

Health Care

Children age 26 and younger will be able to remain covered under their parents health insurance plans (this is increased from past age limits which were anywhere from age 22-25). Medicare recipients will receive a $250 rebate to help in closing the “doughnut hole” (with the goal being to close the doughnut hole completely by 2020). Health insurance companies will be banned from excluding coverage for pre-existing conditions for children. The measure will require most Americans to have health insurance coverage; would add 16 million people to Medicaid and would subsidize private coverage for low- and middle-income people. It will regulate private insurers more closely, banning practices such as denial of care for pre-existing conditions. Now how do you feel about the new bill that was just past in 2010?

For more in formation for cost and regulations check out this website below:
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/health_insurance_and_managed_care/health_care_reform/index.html

K.J. Picard (9:00am)

The Islamic Revolution

First off, I don't expect you to know much, if anything, about the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran or about Iran in general. That said, how do you picture the lives of women in Iran today? What do you think women do over there? How are they treated by men? Are they oppressed by men or by their culture? What are their desires, goals, and struggles? Are they different from women in the United States? From where do you get your ideas about Iranian women and Iran in general?

Also, do you think the Islamic Revolution was beneficial or catastrophic for Iran (or somewhere in between)? Why do you say so?

If you want to read a little about the Islamic Revolution (also called the Iranian Revolution), please go to this site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolution

Thank you!

Neli Aryani (10:00 am)

Biracial Children

I have two biracial children and struggle with what they are missing and what they go through and are going to go through. I am white and the father is black, but he is not in their lives. All they know is what I can teach them and show them; I feel they are going to miss out on their heritage. I also fear what they are going to have to endure growing up, as far as who they feel they belong to and how society is going to treat them. I believe they have all the options in the world and are going to benefit from both sides, because in my eyes they are my children and color doesn't matter to me. I watch people when they see them call me mommy and people can be, and are cruel. I guess what I'm asking is what can I do as the parent to help them, teach them, guide them, and most of all protect them? How can I give them what I don't have or know?

Autumn (10:00)

Together forever..........Not !!!!

So many people today just causually date, and sometimes they stay together for a long time. How do you know if you're really meant to be with that person? Should you stay with your high school sweetheart as long as possible, or should you venture out and see what the world has to offer ?

In case you're a little lost what I'm asking is, is staying with one person for the rest of your life a good thing, or should you get to meet other people so you'll know that the one you're with is worth it?

Ashley Mitchell (9:00)

Out of the middle east?

Ever since President Obama was put into office he has been moving toward getting all American soldiers out of the middle east. Some people believe that we aren't doing any good over seas. Do you think we should just pull out of the middle east? What if when we leave, everything goes back to the way it was over there? What if the absence of American involvement causes things to get worse and there is another attack?

Andy Dodge (9:00)

Music Industry?

Where is the music industry heading? Some may say it is collapsing on itself, that yesterday's acts are gone and record labels are doomed to support disposable artists. Others may say that there is plenty of raw talent in the business for it to sustain itself. Is music growing less appealing with time? Will there be another musical breakthrough era like the 1990s? Is the industry losing power to the convenience of the Internet? Do you think today is a great time to be a musician or a very bad time ? Why do you think so?




Jed Bean (10:00)

What do think when you hear of the ''American Dream''? Now-a-days in our society what does it mean to have this? Would you consider fancy cars, lavish homes, glamourous clothes being it? Do you think living life in a comfortable setting making ends meet with some cash left over is more like this dream that many immigrate to our nation to achieve? Or do you think a life where you're barely making enough to put food on the table but you're happy and so is your family is more like it? Do you think it just means that you have the freedom of religion, speech, and press? Is it a place where everyone is equal and really treated the same with no exceptions? Is the Dream a never-ending party? Do you think that today in our society, in the state that it is in today, it's much harder to achieve your idea of this Dream? What's it take, in your opinion, to get what is most coveted by thousands and thousands of people in countries that don't have an opportunity to succeed?

Saul Sanchez(10:00)

Electric Money?

What do you prefer, paper or plastic? Every day more and more people are putting their money in banks instead of keeping cash. I honestly think that one day there will be no more cash, just credit and debit cards. Some employers have actually stopped handing out paychecks and instead, they give you a prepaid debit card and put your check on it everytime you get paid. Or you also have the option to set up direct deposit to your own bank account, you don't have any other choice but to use plastic to access your money. My job does that and I think it is completely ridiculous.

I don't trust banks at all. If everyone stops using cash and only uses paper that will give the banks ALL control. What happens if our economy goes in the hole and the banks just shut down all bank accounts? A lot of people have ALL of their money in banks and if that happens, there it all goes.

With that said, how do you feel about everyone turning to bank cards instead of cash? Do you trust a bank with all of your money? If you don't, would you ever?

Jessica Sherman-Corbett (10:00)

plugged in

Are people too plugged in?

With all the new ways to communicate online, are people losing their social skills? Do you think Internet sites like Facebook and Twitter are used too much? Some people spend all day on sites like these, either on their phone or their computer. As a society, are we over Interneted? How much do you Facebook or twitter? Should we start to unplug ourselves?

- Matt (9:00)

Gamer?

Are video games a waste of time? How many people do you know who play video games? Do you play video games? If so, how much do you play? Is there anything positive that comes from video games? Should all schools have required game systems so the students can play educational games? Do you think video games should be banned? How many hours is too many per day for playing video games?

Jesus Camarena (9:00)

Is abortion okay?

Do you think that abortion is okay? why or why not? Some people have different opinions on abortion. Some people think that it's okay if you aren't old enough, some people think it's okay if you were raped. Other people say it's not the baby's fault you got pregnant, so you should not abort it.

If you're thinking about having sex, knowing what could happen, shouldn't you be thinking about having a baby? If you're mature enough to start having sex, does that make you mature enough to have a baby?

What are your thoughts about abortion? How would you feel if you went through with it? Or someone made you? What would you do if you were, let's say, sixteen or seventeen and you got pregnant? Even if you believe abortion is wrong, are there some situations in which you would have an abortion (or would want your girlfriend to have one)? What are these situations?

Thanks for your time!

Kaitlyn Taylor 9:00