First Post from the classroom blog

Thought I might save some effort and repost my entry from the classroom blog.  Here it is --

This is the obligatory "First Post".

It is an important post for two reasons -

1. It gives me something to use to set the width of the post column and ensure everything fits on the page.

2. The aspirations for creating the site can be set down so that others can understand the purpose of the site.

The first is done. On to the second.

I can recall, from when I was a high school student, the "fear" teachers had about electronic calculators. This new technology was going to destroy the math skills of every student who owned one and brought it to school. They should be banned! What right minded parent would buy such a thing for their kids?

Embracing new technology can often be troublesome. Often times, it seems, public schools are slow to adapt to or accept new innovations when they should be racing to be the first. Youth have embraced the internet and cell phone culture. If a teenager doesn't have a Facebook page, they likely have one on MySpace. Almost half (48%) of the population 12 years of age or older have a profile on a social media network. The typical American teen sends or receives more than 50 text messages a day. Almost 2/3 of teens text during school. (Resource)

To ignore the opportunity to incorporate web content and mobile texting into the educational experience would be to pass up a significant opportunity to engage students with a modality that they are familiar and comfortable with.  

Therefore, it is the intent or purpose of this site to provide a first step into incorporating these technologies into my classroom.  This site will serve as a home base for future endeavors.  It is foreseeable that assignments or extra-credit material will be posted on this site.  Student generated content may be included.  This site may also be a place where photos of school activities will be posted.  I am sure students will also have suggestions for what this site could be used for.   

Dan in front of Chinese Buffet

2009 Pig Roast - Portrait

Canadian Crowd Control

Sgt. Jack William's Essay

The following essay was written by my good friend Jack Williams.  It has been printed by a few newspapers (mostly armed forces papers, but also a few smaller community newspapers).  It is reproduced here with his permission.  


He and I discussed getting his message out via the internet.  Please link to this post and share it with others.  Jack's perspective is that of the soldier at the tip of the spear.  It is important for folks back here (in the states) to hear how many in Afghanistan feel about their mission.




By STAFF SGT. JACK A. WILLIAMS

U.S. Air Force

As an active duty, Air Force medic, my four years' time in service, serving on the ground with the Army in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, has changed my perspective on combat, military sister services and my role as an Airman.

As my team approaches the halfway point of its deployment, I've been given an opportunity to demonstrate that an Airman on the ground can be a strong asset to the joint expeditionary team.

Here is my story.

The past four months have been both challenging and rewarding. I have learned and applied a lot of skills, leadership and personal restraint. I have performed cricothyroidotomy's (an emergency surgical opening, in the neck, used to establish an airway), needle decompressions, MedEvac'd critical patients following attacks, covered the bodies of my friends and leaders, performed detainee exams on the people who were responsible, pulled security on dismounted patrols, trained on a .50-caliber machine gun, treated both U.S. and Coalition soldiers, all on top of executing the mission of a Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Lazy Wolf

Charlie

I mentioned about a week ago that the long time Director of the ThunderBoomer Girl Scout Camp had passed away.  I wanted to post some pictures of Charlotte.  Or Charlie - that being what most of us called her.

One of the jokes at camp was that you could never get a picture of Charlie.  Usually you would get a picture of her hand in front of her face about 2 inches from the camera lens.  Or you would get her backside -

There are two shots that I have where she manages to partially hide behind other objects.  One is with an inner-tube at the pool - couldn't find it to scan it.  The other was behind two polaroid pictures.  That picture I do have a scan of.  It is on a page in one of the scrapbooks we kept.  It is a large scan, so click on it and it will open up in a much larger frame.  Charlie is the one hiding in the top right.

I did manage to, over the years, get a few decent photos (and some not so good photos).  Here are a few more of Charlie.

Life Guarding Photos

Had a great meeting today with the Director of the Milton YMCA and others.  We were discussing the Fall schedule for the pool.  Lifeguards and lessons instructors are getting more difficult to staff - we thought.  After getting everyone together, we seemed to be able to generate quite a list of prospects.

One thing I did re-realize is how much I miss instructing the Life Guard Classes.  I did have a great time this past Spring helping Ann Lawton at the East Lycoming YMCA.  I really should look into getting back into it.

Anyway, decided to post some old LG pictures with some new ones --

President addresses Boy Scouts at National Jamboree

Via video.  He couldn't break away from fund raising and other commitments to show up in person.



But that is OK.  Ronald Reagan didn't attend the Jamborees while he was President (he sent his wife).  And Bill Clinton and GW only attended one of the Jamborees of the two that took place during their terms.  Bush Sr. attended during his first term - good thing, yes?  Maybe Obama is counting on a second term?

Some people - mostly those with Scouting backgrounds or sons and daughters at the Jamboree - are upset that the President of the United States could not find time to attend in person.  After all, he is the Honorary President of the National Organization.  It is also Scouting in the USA's 100th Anniversary.  Google "President Disses Boy Scouts" and you'll get a sense of the thoughts of our country.  More people seem upset about people being upset than anything else.  How dare the Boy Scouts 'expect' the President to show up?  Frugal Cafe' Blog Zone has a good sampling of what people are saying.

Boy Scout Jamboree’s 100th Anniversary vs. ‘The View’: Boy Scouts Lose, Obama to Appear with Daytime TV Harpies

 Jane Chastain lays her thoughts out very plainly in her posting on WorldNetDaily -

Obama disses the Boy Scouts

Truth be told (I'd tell nothing else), the Presidency and the Boy Scouts are not that tight.  You might think, given the number of Astronauts, prominent business men and entrepreneurs, and other popular figures (like

Really late Boston Pics

I just never got around to them -



While in Boston, we hit a Red Sox game.  We also went to the Museum of Science.

To cute for me, but Cathy will like it.

More Steve Jackson Games - Cthulhu Lives!

Last week I mentioned how we bought some games while on vacation in Boston.  Along with Zombie Dice, we purchased "Cthulu Dice".  It is another simple dice game (die game actually - is that a pun?).  In this game, each player picks a target player and tries to curse him in an attempt to steal their sanity.  Sanity is measured with little glass stones.  When only one person has any sanity left, he is the winner.  If everyone runs out of sanity, Cthulu wins.

We have played this game with different groups of friends.  Learning curve is short - maybe three minutes to learn.  Like Zombie Dice, this game does not have the depth to be the sole focus of a game night.  Unlike Zombie Dice, Cthulu Dice has the "screw your neighbor" quality that many find fun - Kinda like "Lunch Money" - a long time favorite that I should write about later.