Archive for September, 2010

Sep

Are You A Nincompoop?

Can you:

tie your own shoes?
use a can opener?
use an ice cube tray?
tell time on a regular clock?

If not, you might be a nincompoop! The following article states that youngsters are being raised in a “push-button technology” society and therefore don’t know how to do basic things.

Here’s the article.

Question of the Day: What are some things that you think you should be able to do that a past generation would have the ability to do at your age?

It seems that the Reds will be playing the Phillies in the opening round of the playoffs. I can’t say that I’m looking forward to that but I guess the Reds would have to play them eventually if they want to get to the World Series. Roy Oswalt scares me the most. He is something like 26-1 against the Reds in his career.
I’ll just enjoy this while it lasts. After all, Clinchmas doesn’t come around too often in Cincinnati.

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Flintstones.

Good show…good vitamins. Do they still make Flintstone vitamins? Have you ever had them?

posted by Mr. Dowling in Current Events,The Reds,Uncategorized and have Comments (19)

Sep

Thank You

Thank you to those of you who participated in the extra credit assignment. It is possible that we will do things like this again in the near future. If you didn’t know how to post a reply, try doing it now so that you are prepared if there is ever another opportunity.

Thank you also to all of the visitors over the last month. This has been the best September in the 5 year history of socialstudieswithasmile.com.

posted by Mr. Dowling in Uncategorized and have Comments (12)

Sep

Reds Win…And Now You Can Too!

Earlier in the year we celebrated the Reds return to the top of the National League with an extra credit opportunity. We’re going to do that again since I’m in such a good mood.

Today, I’m going to post a review question. If you (correctly) post an answer to the question, you will receive one extra credit point.

Rules to follow:
1. Answers need to be fully explained and you must use as close to proper English as possible.
2. You must post your name and an email address (your portnet email would be fine).
3. Your answer must be posted by 12 midnight (however, you shouldn’t be awake at that time…so get it in much earlier!)

Don’t be discouraged if your posted answer does not appear immediately. It must be approved by me. This will give everyone an opportunity to come up with an answer without help from early posters.

Today’s Question (Worth 1 Extra Credit Point-One point might not seem like a lot. However it can add up…especially if the Reds keep winning!):

Recently public schools have come under attack by many in the media. However they don’t have first hand experience of schools in 2010. Your question: What is good about public schools today? What needs to be fixed?

Reds On a Roll…Cause for Celebration!

posted by Mr. Dowling in School,The Reds,Uncategorized and have Comments (22)

Sep

Cinsational

What a way to get into the playoffs! A walk off homerun in the bottom of the 9th by Jay Bruce. Exciting, Exciting, Exciting.
Here’s some stuff I’ve found on the internet to celebrate the Reds victory which can only be described as Cinsational.

IN SPRING we did start the season,
The fans with no faith for some reason.
But players put trust in Baker,
He’s proven that he is no faker.
So here we are headed to postseason

Word of the Day: Clinchmas-the moment/celebration when a team wins a division title. It definitely feels like Clinchmas to me.
Merry Clinchmas to all.

posted by Mr. Dowling in The Reds,Uncategorized and have Comments (14)

Sep

Favorite Movies

I’ve decided to add this post after the question from Elizabeth earlier in the week. I figured we can post our favorite movies here and it can be an ongoing thing. I’m sure I’ll remember a movie a week or a month or even a year from now. Then we’ll come back here to post it.

You can also include movies that you would recommend for others to see. Just a thought.
I’ve added Movies as a category so that you can find it easily.

My favorite movies (I’m sure I’ll leave some out) include:
JFK, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Firm, Field of Dreams, The Shawshank Redemption, 1776, In the Line of Fire. I didn’t include comedies because there is such a wide variety of them.

Tags: Movies

posted by Mr. Dowling in Movies,Uncategorized and have Comments (12)

Sep

Caption Craziness

There’s just something about animals that can create a humorous picture…even if it is made up.
Enjoy.

This Day In History
1781-The Americans begin the Battle of Yorktown. As you will soon learn, this was the final battle of the American Revolution. Of course, the Americans would not have been successful without the help of the French.

posted by Mr. Dowling in Caption Craziness,history and have Comments (8)

Sep

The Crisis and the Reds

Later on in the year we will be learning about the American Revolution. One of the famous revolutionaries was a guy named Thomas Paine who wrote Common Sense and The Crisis.
In the past, I’ve compared the feelings that the Crisis brings up with my suffering as a Reds fan. The following line is especially telling: “…the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” Truer words were never spoken.
Consider this…I’ve been waiting for the Reds to get to the playoffs since 1995. In those 15 years I have:

graduated from high school
learned to drive
graduated from St. John’s University
worked as a teacher at Lawrence Middle School
coached baseball for 6 years
worked as a teacher at Weber Middle School
earned my Master’s Degree from St. John’s University
bought a house
got married
had a child

Life has certainly changed.

Another great line from Paine also shared how one feels when a lot of effort (in this case agony) goes into making something happen.

“What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly…” I’m going to enjoy every moment of these next few days while hoping for a glorious triumph.

By the way, it’s about time we started talking about Social Studies again!

Thomas Paine

posted by Mr. Dowling in The Reds,Uncategorized,history and have Comments (12)

Sep

Homework Club Returns

Homework Club returns tomorrow. The club meets from 3:15 to 4:15 in my room. I have all of the books that you’re going to need. Just bring your homework book and your binders.
It is a great opportunity to work in a quiet environment and get help when needed. And when possible…I don’t know much French for example (Merci Beaucups)
Homework Club meets every Tuesday and Thursday.

Be on the look out for a Caption Craziness tomorrow courtesy of Ethan B. a current 8th grader.

Baseball and Television…two of my favorite past-times. Put them together and I’m in heaven. That’s going to happen Tuesday and Wednesday night on Channel 13 beginning at 8 pm when we get the 10th Inning of Ken Burns’ Baseball Documentary. The first 9 innings were spectacular. You learn not only a lot about baseball but you also get a peek at America. As you know, baseball has been with us during Post Civil War times, the Great Depression, Segregation, World Wars I and II, etc. The first nine innings are sometimes shown on The MLB Network. Share your thoughts here if you end up watching.

posted by Mr. Dowling in School,Television,Uncategorized,baseball and have Comments (10)

Sep

The Weekend of 9/25

Bowling Scores for This Week: 117 (yikes!), 182 and 151.

Reds Magic Number remains at 3. Unfortunately I won’t be able to watch the Reds play today. Instead, FOX will be showing the 3,404,439 battle between the Yankees and Red Sox. Thank you for showing us a meaningless game instead of a game between two teams battling to make the playoffs. I guess it’s another reason to go out and enjoy the wonderful weather.

Quote of the Day: “He took a little off that one to get a strike.”-Reds Broadcaster Chris Welsh on Aroldis Chapman. Chapman’s pitch speed for that particular pitch? 100 mph!!! He topped out at 105. Unfortunately, the Reds couldn’t get it done last night.

Jets and Dolphins this week. Usually that would lead me to watch the game as I’m a Dolphins fan. Not this week as the Reds will also be playing at 4. However, I’m going with the Dolphins in this one. Turns out the Dolphins and Jets are playing an 8. I’ll probably be asleep way before that one ends.

Finished a 5K in Bayville earlier this morning. I didn’t run but I walked it with Mrs. Dowling, DJ, my mother-in-law and 5 of my nieces and one of my nephews. So if you’re keeping score, that is 7 children ranging in ages from 6 1/2 months to 8 years old. That was more of a workout than running!

posted by Mr. Dowling in Bowling,The Reds,Uncategorized,baseball and have Comments (8)

Sep

What I’m Doing This Weekend-The Final Countdown

We could be a day or two away from the biggest day in Reds history since 2000.
It’s the Final Countdown to Reds postseason play.
The Reds magic number currently stands at 3.

Wish I could be there…but San Diego is pretty far away.

posted by Mr. Dowling in The Reds,Uncategorized,baseball and have Comments (4)

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