Bethany

I like the points you make in your comparison. The only question I have is where did you get your information? Always try to reference your sources correctly. || __Worth:__ 2 points || __Progress:__
 * Compare and contrast alternative fuels for cars

//Finished// || Geocaching is addictive. You must try to find the one placed one the square in Mt. Vernon. The way they hid it is amazing. || __Worth:__ 2 points || __Progress:__ //Finished// || One thing you can say about Glenn Beck is people love him or hate him. I do believe he makes people think about politics and government. Keep in mind he is an extremist. I did enjoy the video! || __Worth:__ 3 points || __Progress:__ //Finished// || This book is not the easiest or most interesting to read for everyone but my hope was that one or two of the issues discussed would be very relevant to you. The issues are important, with that said will 4 or 5 sentences provide enough information for me to evaluate? If you read another book please write more. I want to hear what you have to say. || __Worth:__ 3 points || __Progress:__ //Finished// || The video is great. Please describe in one paragraph how you currently use Google Reader or evaluate the flaws of the tool. || __Worth:__ 2 points || __Progress:__ //Finished// revise || Please describe in one paragraph how you currently use Delicious or evaluate the flaws of the tool. || __Worth:__ 2 points || __Progress:__ //Finished// revise || I enjoyed reading your opinion of the film. It is important that we all know where are food comes from. Has this film changed your eating habits? || __Worth:__ 1 point || __Progress:__ //Finished// || course offerings, and GPA in high school Thank you for speaking the the 8th grade students. They need to hear it from students just like them. Sometimes the message is more powerful coming from your peers. || __Worth:__ 1 point || __Progress:__ //Finished// || Let's geocache again! We need to place one on school grounds. || __Woth:__ 2 points || __Progress:__ //Finished// ||
 * Participate in a geocaching project outside our school district
 * Read and review the book //Common Sense// by Glenn Beck
 * Read and review the book //High Noon, 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them// by J.F. Rischard
 * Use [|Google reader]to manage information
 * Use [|Delicious]as a social bookmarking tool.
 * Review a documentary on a global issue **Food, Inc. **
 * Speak to a group of students in the 8th and or 9th grade regarding the importance of attendance,
 * Utilize GPS in a school project (e.g. geocaching)
 * Thank you for your efforts in this course. I have not provided much direction (intentionally) and have asked you to take responsibility for your learning. Continue to try and please make the revisions I mentioned above. I will send you an email with your current grade. ||  ||   ||


 * ALTERNATIVE FUELS FOR CARS

__Ethanol:__ Ethanol is produced domestically from corns and other crops, and it is said to produce less less greenhouse gas emmisions than regular or conventional fuels. __Biodiesel:__ Made from vegetable oils and animal fats. It usually produces less air pollutants than petroleum-based diesel. __Natural Gas:__ Natural gas, a fossil fuel comprised mostly of methane, is one of the cleanest burning alternative fuels. It can be used in the form of compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) to fuel cars and trucks.
 * Advantages & Disadvantages of Ethanol ||
 * Advantages || Disadvantages ||
 * * Domestically produced, reducing use of imported petroleum
 * Burns cleaner than fossil fuels
 * Sources are renewable
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Results in less greenhouse gases, which slows down global warming || * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Can only be used in flex-fuel vehicles
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Lower energy content, resulting in fewer miles per gallon
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Limited availability
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Adding Ethanol to the competition will raise the prices of many things dramatically ||


 * <span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Advantages & Disadvantages of Biodiesel ||
 * <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Advantages || <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Disadvantages ||
 * * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Domestically produced from non-petroluem, renewable resources
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Can be used in most diesel engines, especially newer ones
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Less air pollutants (other than nitrogen oxides) and greenhouse gases
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Biodegradable
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Non-toxic
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Safer to handle || * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Use of blends above B5 not yet warrantied by auto makers
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Currently more expensive
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">More nitrogen oxide emissions
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">B100 generally not suitable for use in low temperatures
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Concerns about B100's impact on engine durability ||

· <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">60-90% less smog-producing pollutants · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">30-40% less greenhouse gas emissions · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Less expensive than gasoline || · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Limited vehicle availability · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Less readily available than gasoline & diesel · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Fewer miles on a tank of fuel || Since many alternative fuels are renewable and can be produced in the U.S. they could reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I never realized that fuels such as biodiesel, and ethanol have actually been produced and used on a small scale for decades now. They are just now being rediscovered because of the rising cost of oil and the instability of world politics. So that has led us to find alternative fuels for our vehicles. While reviewing all the different types of fuels, Ethanol, Biodiesel, and Natural Gas stuck out to me the most. They were the three alternative gases that seemed the most practical for our economy and the average Americans. Biodiesel would be a very safe coice because it's a natural and renewable domestic fuel  made from vegetable oils, mostly soy, and corn. It contains no petroleum, is nontoxic and biodegradable. But the major disadvantage of using biodiesel is the fact that it's very expensive for the average household family. Although we may need to look past the price and realize that the benefits are greater not only for the environment, but human health, and our own economy. Ethanol is by far the most talked about alternative fuel. For now, ethanol is mostly a blending source to help lower the amount of oil consumed while providing cleaner-burning fuel. The disadvantages are that ethanol is harder to ignite in cold climates, and experts argue the percentages, but cars running on E85 get 10 percent to 20 percent fewer miles per gallon than on gasoline. And ethanol may not always cost less; it depends on where you are. In some Midwest states where ethanol is produced, it can cost around 60 cents less per gallon than gasoline. But since there are so few filling stations with ethanol right now, those stations far from production centers cost more than gasoline, and give drivers fewer miles per gallon. Natural gas is a popular fuel choice because it burns cleaner, hotter, and brighter than other fossil fuels like coal and oil. It’s also reliable. Because natural gas pipes are buried safely underground, you aren’t likely to lose service during stormy weather.
 * <span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Advantages & Disadvantages of Natural Gas ||
 * <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Advantages || <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Disadvantages ||
 * · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Nearly 87% of U.S. natural gas used is domestically produced

Before watching Food Inc. I never realized how poor the quality of our food has become. The animal cruelty came as a shock also. Industries have gotten to the point where they don't want their consumers knowing what they are eating. I believe if people knew what was in their food, and the process it took to make it, they would be hesitant to eat it and feed it to their children. This documentary really opened my eyes to the current situation, and I hope other people will take notice too. It all started when the first McDonalds was made. People got their food faster, and cheaper. The idea of fast food expanded, and grew into thousands of fast food chains. This has definitely impacted why our food is poor quality now. Animals are being abused, and given growth hormones to sell bigger, cheaper, and faster food. Its not really the farmers fault, but the factories. Huge multinational corporations that are demanding farmers to use certain food, or use certain buildings (for example, the pig barns with no windows) are lowering our food quality. I was amazed when the farmers in the documentary explained how companies told them how to run their farms; Failure to respond would have them fired. This shows us that it is impossible to make healthy decisions if the decision about our food is already made for us. media type="youtube" key="UXSxJF43XGA" height="385" width="480"
 * Food, INC**
 * Here is a trailer of the movie for anyone interested in watching it!

course offerings, and GPA in high school:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Speak to a group of students in the 8th and or 9th grade regarding the importance of attendance,

__Dates Completed:__ March 25th, and March 29th

Here is a clear, and simple video on HOW to use Google Reader:

<span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 9pt;">media type="youtube" key="VSPZ2Uu_X3Y" height="385" width="640" Googler Reader came in handy for me when I maintained my own blog on [|www.blogger.com]. Google Reader would add the blogs I followed, and almost act as a suscription to that current blog. It would let me know when they updated their blog, or added any new information. Google Reader has really helped me stay organized while taking these flex credit courses. It even suggests for me recommended sites and sources, which are most of the time really useful. I havent had any negative experiences with Google Reader so far, and i dont think I will. I reccomend others to use it.


 * Geocaching- April 2nd & April 4th

Geocaching came as a pleasant surprise, and i found out that I really enjoy it. I had heard about a couple people doing it, but never realized it was a world-wide activity. The three objects we found at the bike path were fun, and now im ready to step it up and try to find some a little more challenging. I actually went out with my family on Easter Sunday and we explored the Martinsburg Cemetery and Taylor field in Bladensburg. The Cemetery was a bust, but we managed to find one at Taylor field! <span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">


 * Glenn Beck's Common Sense Review

<span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 9pt;"> ​ When I started to read Glenn Beck's Common Sense, I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew nothing about him or his political views. After the first chapter (more like the first paragraph) I started to get a better idea of what he is all about. Glenn Beck is a public figure, and a strong conservative whose views have gained him controversy and criticism. Beck doesn't necessarily take any sides of the government, but instead he focuses on Americans and the frustrations they should have towards our political system. I think his major issue that I don't agree with is that he believes ONLY the government should be held accountable for our countries current state. This is definitely not true in my opinion. We as Americans are the ones electing our leaders into office, and we are the ones being irresponsible with money, and loans; the banks can only do so much. The "common sense" he is referring to happens to go both ways. After reading many other reviews, many believe that his book only refers to "A single target audience only: middle class married men with children, struggling to make ends meet." The point Beck is trying to get across in his book is that Americans need to stand up and take charge. He claims that that it is the duty of Americans who understand the problems to correct them. In the end, I agree and disagree with Glenn Beck's views and beliefs about our government. media type="youtube" key="VRpDHfmZAOI" height="385" width="480" I found this video quite amusing- Glenn Beck sends Brian Sack out in the streets of NYC to see if hardcore liberals will agree with his "Common Sense."

High Noon/ 20 Global Problems& 20 Years To Solve Them, is a book about the importance of the enviornment and how the next twenty years will be of critical importance to our planet.The main problem is that in our high-population, fast-moving, globalized and interconnected world, we don't have an effective way of addressing the problems that our world creates. All throughout the book there are visual graphs and charts to help you understand clearly what J.F. Rischard wants to explain. He challenges us to take a new approach to the problems of the twenty-first century, and overall I think this book is a good read for those interested in changing the world we live in for the better.
 * High Noon/ 20 Global Problems, 20 years to solve them