Archive for 2010

Dec

Technology

I promised myself I was done with blogging for the year, then I saw this cartoon.

Wow. I guess we’re eventually going to get to the point where books are no longer in paper form. I’m not ready for that. In fact, I don’t think I ever will.
Does anyone have a kindle-type book thing?
Any thoughts on the changes in reading with technology? Do you think it will have an impact on literacy?

I won’t say I’ll never get an electronic reader thing but I can’t imagine doing it for a long time. I guess I’m old fashioned.

By the way, there is a Twilight Zone Marathon on the SyFy network. Tonight at 7:30 is “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street”. Check it out. It should remind you of McCarthyism/The Red Scare.

posted by Mr. Dowling in Current Events,Television,Uncategorized and have Comments (5)

Dec

This Is It

That blur that passed before your very eyes…2010. Wow did that go by fast or what? I can’t believe we’re nearly halfway through the school year.

Top Blog Stories of 2010

A New Addition To The Blog Family: Daniel Ryan Dowling Jr.
Yes, you might say it was obvious that he would pick the birth of his son as the most important event in 2010. But the statistics don’t like. The week of 3/3 was the most visited week in socialstudieswithasmile.com history. It was very nice to come home to an empty house while DJ and Mrs. Dowling were in the hospital to read all of the nice comments that students were leaving. I also enjoy sharing pictures of my son which seemed to be very popular as well. Amazingly, that was nearly 10 months ago.
Here’s one last picture for 2010:

It takes a lot to beat out the Reds and last year’s winner the Krispy Kreme Hamburger but DJ definitely deserves top honors this year.

Last year’s final song was The Last Dance by Donna Summer. This year, enjoy the cool, smooth stylings of Kenny Loggins and “This Is It”

A Reds Picture: Because I Can!

Question of the Day: How will you be celebrating the new year? I’ll be staying home where it is safe. There are too many crazy people out there that do stupid things.

posted by Mr. Dowling in DJ,The Reds,Uncategorized,baseball and have Comments (18)

Dec

The Countdown Continues

The Cincinnati Reds Make It To The Playoffs
An amazing season…plenty of thrills…great players to follow. Below is a highlight reel of great Reds moments aka propaganda to get you to join the Big Red Machine.
Watching that video this morning made me eager to start the 2011 season. Thankfully it is right around the corner. The Reds are coming back with nearly all of the same team.

It is amazing the difficulty New York is having with snow removal. I heard several tragedies related to the snow storm this morning on the news. Sad events to say the least. Hopefully the city will get its act together soon.

Is the lack of snow removal in NYC the result of budget cuts? or consolidation (too much work in the hands of a giant department)? Is this something Long Island is going to deal with in the future as we continue talks of consolidation and budget cuts?
We cannot have our cake and eat it too.

posted by Mr. Dowling in Current Events,The Reds,Uncategorized,baseball and have Comments (10)

Dec

Wednesday, 12/29

Today’s Countdown is brought to you by tums and rolaids. After re-reading this, you’re going to need them!

Our Obsession With Food
There aren’t too many days that go by before we discuss food. Here are some of the unique (odd?) foods that we’ve discussed over the past 12 months.
Think of it as a trip down memory lane…or memory’s digestive system!

Bacon Cheeseburger Sausage

The Juicy Lucy

Grilled Cheese Hamburger aka The Fatty Melt

Chicken Jelly Donut

We also had the Garlic Bread Hamburger. I actually had this one. It was very good. I recommend it…but not frequently. The Grilled Cheese Hamburger was very good as well. I’m still waiting to have the others (other than the Chicken Jelly Donut) especially this one:

Krispy Kreme Hamburger

Here’s to another year of discussions on food, great food, odd food…it doesn’t matter, as long as it’s food.

posted by Mr. Dowling in Food,Uncategorized and have Comments (6)

Dec

Food Fight: Holiday Edition

It seems that people I encounter are on either side of this debate.

Leftovers: Love Them or Hate Them?

I love them. If the food was great the first day it will be even better the next. As long as everything is fresh and not stale, I’m all in. I could eat leftovers for days.
What do you say?

posted by Mr. Dowling in Food and have Comments (10)

Dec

Tuesday, 12/28

I guess the holidays combined with a vacation combined with 2 snow days erases your memory. It just took me 30 seconds to figure out what today’s date is.

Snow days aren’t worth it. Sure it is nice to not have work but the shoveling isn’t worth it at all. I’m hoping we don’t get another one of these blizzards this year. I don’t think my back can take it.

Who knew taxes would generate such a response from people. One way or another we are all impacted by the decisions that are made in Washington and Albany. It is very important that we vote and share our opinions with our representatives. They do listen, especially if you are in a large lobbying group like AARP or the teachers unions. My local representative in Nassau County called me back after I left a message for her about an upcoming vote. We cannot assume that no one will listen or that our vote doesn’t matter.

Top Blog Stories of 2010

The Socialstudieswithasmile.com Commercial Debuts
Whenever anyone has anything disparaging to say about my website (by the way, didn’t anyone ever teach these people that if they have nothing nice to say they shouldn’t say anything at all?) my response is always the same: “It’s better than your website!” Perhaps I should add, “It’s better than your commercial too!!!”

There is no word yet on whether this commercial (or perhaps a new one for this year) will make it to the Superbowl. Let the fundraising begin! How many brownies do we have to bake for the bake sale to raise $750,000?

posted by Mr. Dowling in Uncategorized and have Comments (3)

Dec

Political Cartoon

We used this political cartoon in class this year. Thought I’d post it since many of you haven’t seen this one (Hello Alabama!).

Certainly taxes are a problem for all New Yorkers/Long Islanders. Schools tend to be the target of much of the venom. Teachers especially get the blame. I pay taxes too. I’m grateful for all those who paid their taxes from 1986 to 1999 while I was in public schools. I wouldn’t be here today without the great public education that I received.

Any opinion on this topic?

posted by Mr. Dowling in Current Events,Uncategorized and have Comments (14)

Dec

Blizzard??? Snow Way!!!

Nothing like being snowed in for 2 days during vacation. I guess it forces us to relax. I have a lot of shoveling to do today.
The roads look terrible. Be careful if you are leaving the house.

Feel free to stick around on the blog today. Plenty of excitement here, I’m sure. There’s a reason we’re ranked in the top 2,200,000!

Confederate Message Decoded
Interesting article about the Battle of Vicksburg and the desperation the Confederate soldiers were feeling at the time. Click here to read.

Oh Deer!
According to The Daily News, Norwegian reindeer owners have been putting reflectors on deer so that they won’t get hit by cars. About 2000 reindeer have been given reflective collars and antler tags to cut down on car crashes. About 500 reindeer are killed every year in car accidents in Arctic Norway.

This cartoon is very similar to the one we saw in class recently about Obama’s desire to extend the school year. I’m sure that will be a popular decision with students.

Top Blog Stories of 2010

Silly Bandz
What a sensation! Rubber bands shaped like other objects. This will never catch on in Middle School says Mr. Dowling. The next day, students come in elbow deep in silly bands. Schools even went as far as banning them because they became a distraction in classrooms.
Here is the original post from May 6:

Goofy!
That’s how I would describe this latest fad.
Newsday reports that schools on Long Island are banning them because they have become a distraction to the students. I thought that there is no way this would happen in a 7th grade classroom but sure enough, my day started with a look at Alyssa’s collection of rubber bands!
I even shared some of mine…although no one seemed interested in my collectors items.

Schools Want To Ban Silly Bandz

What is your opinion on this? I’d be curious to see if your opinion changes over the next several weeks.

I’ll be around throughout the day. Enjoy the rest of your day.

Outside for an hour of backbreaking, frozen fingered shoveling. Great feeling knowing that I had accomplished a lot dashed when snow plow comes by and blocks us in again! UGH. Guess I’ll just have to get another workout. The good news is that some of the snow appears to be melting.

posted by Mr. Dowling in Current Events,Uncategorized and have Comments (7)

Dec

DJ Opening Presents

posted by Mr. Dowling in DJ,Uncategorized and have Comments (7)

Dec

YAY!!! We’re Going To Get A Snow Day!

Uhhhhhhhh…what terrible timing. A snow day during vacation is like having a steak the day after your tongue is amputated. Is there any rule that says that we can just add an extra day to vacation next Monday?

Christmas was fun. DJ has no idea what is going on so I suspect next year will be even more fun. He also wasn’t feeling well so that probably contributed to his lack of excitement.
I ate enough for 2 or 3 people. Then there’s today…an entire day home with leftovers. At least we have football to watch.

Question of the Day: Just about everyone has celebrated a holiday by now during this season. What was your favorite present that you received?

Top Blog Stories of 2010

Extra Credit Opportunities Online
A continuing trend for top stories this year…using the website and blog to help students. This year, the Reds made it to first place for the first time in a long time. It was a cause for celebration. For a week in May, we offered an extra credit point for each extra credit question posted daily. Students took advantage of the opportunity and many ended the week with 5 extra credit points. We continued the “tradition” of celebrating all things Reds when we had an extra credit question to celebrate the Reds entry into the playoffs in September. Unfortunately, my dreams of giving away multiple points during the playoffs were dashed thanks to the Philadelphia Phillies.
There’s always next year for this successful venture.

posted by Mr. Dowling in DJ,School,Uncategorized and have Comments (14)

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