Barry Manilow Crime Fighter

Maybe you have heard this one. Barry Manilow is fighting crime! Okay, so he is not exactly arresting miscreants, but his music is being used to keep trouble making people out of certain car lots in Australia. Maybe you have heard him sing before and you thought he was "cheesy." That is okay, but in the 1970s and 1980s he was one of the most popular recording artists in America, especially with the ladies!



What do you think of music that is not popular with certain people being used to keep them from gathering in an area where they might cause problems for others? Is this an infringement on their rights or does it protect the rights of others? What music would you use to keep crime down?

Auld Lang Syne

Many of you have heard the song "Auld Lang Syne." Kenny G has recorded two unique versions of the song that you may have heard. The first (referred to as The Millennium Mix) was released in 1999. The second version (Freedom Mix) was released in 2002. Both versions have been played quite a bit on the radio. The unusual thing about these versions is that 20th century sound clips are mixed in with the music. These move in chronological order (in historical order) throughout the song. Most of the clips are about 3 seconds long, so it is hard to identify them all as the song moves along. The videos we will view also show some of these moments.

How many of the moments can you identify? Do you like the tune? Let us know what you think. How does mixing history and holiday music work?

Auld Lang Syne, an old Scottish poem is most widely known as the song that is sung at midnight on New Year's Eve. Have you heard it before?

This is pure Grinch

This is amazing. It seems that someone stole toys from Toys for Tots in Suffolk. Can you believe it? Who could have done it? Is there any justification for it?

Toys for Tots has been around for a long time. What do you know about it? Read about its programs and history. Is it a good charity or just another charity who seem to be asking for help during the holidays? Tell us what you think about Toys for Tots, holiday charities and the events in Suffolk.

Christmas Music

It seems that holiday music is everywhere today. You hear it on the radio, in the malls, on television and yes, even in my classroom! One local radio station (2WD) is playing nothing but holiday music.

Maybe you have a favorite artist or group that makes holiday music. Some groups like Mannheim Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra produce mainly holiday music.

Other artists (probably including your favorite) have probably done a holiday song or two. Look at the videos. Did you enjoy them? What is your favorite holiday music? Do you think it is over done, or not done enough.

Who is your favorite Christmas/holiday artist or group? Do you have a favorite song? Let us know what it is! My favorite group is Trans-Siberian Orchestra and my all-time favorite song is "Step Into Christmas" by Elton John!

A Christmas Peace

Last week we viewed the video to "Snoopy's Christmas." In it, Snoopy and the Red Baron stopped their fighting to celebrate Christmas, and at the end of the song, they proceeded on their way, knowing the war would be resuming for them shortly. Fiction, right? Maybe not.

During the height of World War I fighting, a momentary truce broke out between the British and German forces on December 24, 1914. Incredible as it may seem, for about 24 hours the warring enemies not only stopped the fighting, but actually exchanged small presents, food and engaged in other gestures of goodwill including playing soccer! In less than two days, the fighting and killing resumed. This is considered unusual because while there have been cease fires during wars, rarely if ever do enemy soldiers intermingle.

Read about it on wikipedia, and tell us what you think. Did it make a difference in the war (which would continue for almost four more years)? Are there lessons to be learned from it?

Genetic Testing for (unborn) Athletes

Yikes! A website claims it can conduct genetic testing on unborn children to determine if they may have a gene that is directly related to athletic ability. Imagine knowing if your soon to be born baby might be the next Michael Phelps, Albert Pujols, Williams sister or Tom Brady?

What do you think of this? Would you want to know if that genetic combination was present? Would it alter the way you viewed your child? Or, is this too much like "science fiction" for you?

OR, would you rather not know? Is there another genetic trait you might be more interested in knowing?

One last thought, is it the genes, or is there much more involved in becoming a successful athlete? Tell us what you think!

Snoopy's Christmas

They are called "Novelty Songs." Songs that you may only hear once or twice and totally forget or remember for a long time. Wikipedia defines a novelty song as: a silly or nonsensical song, performed principally for its comical effect.

During the 1960's the most popular comic strip was "Peanuts." Several television specials starring Charlie Brown and his friends were on the air. In 1967 the rock and roll band "The Royal Guardsmen" recorded the novelty hit "Snoopy's Christmas" about a World War I Christmas Eve dogfight between Snoopy and the German air ace "The Red Baron."

Watch the video. What do you think about it? Is it funny and entertaining or annoying? Have you heard it before? Are novelty songs annoying or entertaining? Do you have a favorite novelty song? Tell us what it is!

The lyrics are included for your enjoyment.

Safe Haven?

You may have heard of the Nebraska state law referred to as the Safe Haven Act. The law allows parents to leave a child at a licensed hospital without explaining why. The law was originally intended to allow only newborns and infants to be "abandoned." However, at least 14 children, including 7 teenagers have been left at Nebraska hospitals. Some of these children came from as far away as Georgia!

Recently the law was amended to set the age limit at 30 days.

What do you think of this? Should parents just be allowed to leave their children at a hospital? What about those teenagers who were left? If you were the Governor of Nebraska would you want the law to remain or be changed?

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! What does Thanksgiving mean to you? For some it is a day of football, for others a day to plan their Friday shopping excursions, and for others a chance to enjoy a feast with family and friends. Thanksgiving should also be a day when we reflect on all that we have to be thankful for! Thanksgiving has a long history dating back to the ancient Hebrews, Greeks and Romans. In America it can be traced back over 350 years!

How do you and your family celebrate Thanksgiving? Do you have traditions that you follow? Will you eat too much? Tell us about what you plan on doing for Thanksgiving, and what it means to you in your posting. Remember to use at least five sentences!

And, finally, I hope each and every one of you have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

MOO Power!!!!!

They are everywhere. You see them on billboards, at the mall, in other shopping areas, at Tides baseball games and in commercials on television. They even have their own college football bowl game! That's right, I am talking about those wild and crazy Chick-fil-A cows. When you think about it, the person who created that advertising idea was very clever.





Do you like to eat at Chick-fil-A? Why or why not? What is your favorite fast food restaurant? Do you like the ads, or have they gotten boring and old?



Check out this website. The history and the policies of Chick-fil-A are interesting to read. Let me know what you think! Remember to proofread!

Shift Happens

The two videos we will be watching are at the least very eye-opening and thought provoking. Do you believe the statistics you saw? Is the United States at a disadvantage, education wise? Does this make you want to work harder in school?

Does size matter? Finally, what does this imply for the future?

Think about this and reply. Remember, at least five sentences and proofread!

Bond...James Bond

A new James Bond film, “Quantum of Solace” has recently opened in theaters. The latest installment in the movie series is getting excellent reviews. Over the years there have been over 20 Bond movies with 6 different actors portraying the legendary 007. It is reported that Bond even cries in this new movie!


Movie goers seem to have a huge appetite for Bond movies as they feature dashing secret agents, beautiful women, fancy cars, neat gadgets and evil villains. These films have earned over 11 billion dollars since the first Bond movie in 1962. Have you seen any Bond movies? What do you think of them? So you think it is difficult to keep the character up to date? Is it funny how he never seems to get older?

Watch the video. What do you think of Bond films? Will you go see this movie? Do you have a favorite movie? My favorite is the original “Casino Royale.” Remember your paragraph must be at least five sentences and proofread it!

Going Places

Travel,

Everyone likes to travel and go places. Is that correct? Over the next week or so we will hear a lot of news about travel during the Thanksgiving Holiday, and how busy it is. Do you like to travel? Where have you been and where would you like to go? Tell us about these in your posting. Remember it is to be at least five sentences. Proofread!!!

Maybe this video will inspire you!!

We are Marshall!!!

On November 14, 1970 at around 7:35 pm Southern Airways Flight 932 crashed down a hill near Tri-State Airport in Huntington, West Virginia and killed all seventy-five passengers on board. The death list included thirty-seven members and most of the coaches of the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team. Not on the plane were three varsity players, one assistant football coach and a graduate assistant coach. Numerous local dignitaries and school officials were also on the flight.

In December, 2006 the movie "We are Marshall", starring Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox (from the TV show "Lost") and Kate Mara (granddaughter of New York Giants owner Wellington Mara), chronicled the rebuilding of the team and its' first victory during the following football season. This movie was filmed on the Marshall University campus and in Atlanta, GA including my old high school football field, Tara Staduim. Oddly, Marshall's football stadium from 1971 has been torn down.

Watch the video and comment on the video and the movie (if you have seen it). If you have seen the movie reply with your comments on it. Is the movie inspirational? Is it accurate? If not, research it for a few minutes, then comment. Do you see something good that came from it?

Rudeness!!!!

Rudeness seems to be all around us. Does it seem that people have forgotten how to be "nice" to others and treat others by what the Golden Rule says: "do onto others as you want them to do to you"? Take the rudeness quiz. How did you do? Tell the class about it in a well written paragraph.

Here is a hint. I will not publish a comment that is not written well (at least five sentences) and spelled correctly with good grammar. I recommend that you key it to a word document and spell check it. Cut and paste it to the comment box, then post it! Remind me to talk about it for you!

Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day. Who is a veteran? More importantly, why do we celebrate Veterans on this day? Do you know the history of Veteran's Day?
Please tell me in a paragraph of at least five good sentences the history of Veteran's Day and why it is important to remember it!

Welcome Back

Welcome to my blog. My name is Roland Downing and I will be teaching two blocks of Keyboarding and a block of Finance at Windsor High School in Windsor, VA. I am pleased and honored to be here! I will be adding posts, thoughts and other items during the school year, so check back often.

I will be using this blog through out the year as past of my classroom activities! More on this later.