Post #69: Manatee Appreciation Day

Having a lifespan of about 60 years, manatees are calm herbivores with no known natural enemies that spend most of their time eating, sleeping and traveling.  These spectacular mammals have their day of honor each year on the last Wednesday in March, as people across the country celebrate Manatee Appreciation Day.  

Manatees like slow rivers, canals, saltwater bays, estuaries and coastal areas.  As a migratory species, they inhabit the Florida waters during the winter and move as far north as Virginia and as far west as Texas in the summer months.

The most significant challenge manatees face today is the loss of habitat. Currently, there are approximately 3,200 manatees living in the United States.  

The life of a Manatee sounds pretty sweet... write a paragraph describing the day in the life of a manatee. When you are done with your blog go to Typing Agent and complete Unit 5.

Post #68: National Something on a Stick Day

Observed each year on March 28, National Something on a Stick Day is a food holiday that lets you use your creative talents.  Once you get started, the possibilities are endless.  Foods that comes on a stick are fun and easy to eat.

There isn’t much that can’t be put on a stick when talking about food. Soup might be that one exception, though if it were flavorful frozen, we might make an exception.

From cool summer treats like the Popsicle to frozen food staples like the corn dog, food on a stick is one of the world’s great inventions. Fresh fruit kabobs and skewers of grilled veggies and meat are both summer favorites.

Street fairs and food trucks have created a variety of recipes made to go on a stick that takes us from breakfast to after party hunger with flavor combinations that sometimes make us wonder why we haven’t tried that before!  Whether it is fresh and healthy or breaded and deep fried, menu choices are broad and plentiful for National Something on a Stick Day.

What is your favorite "Something on a Stick"? When you are finished go to Typing Agent and begin Unit 5... this is our last week of Typing Agent! The free trial is up on March 31st.

Post #67: National Goof Off Day

National Goof Off Day is observed annually on March 22.  Research indicates that this day is also known as International Goof Off Day.  It is a day to relax, enjoy and goof off.  Do something fun and leave the work until tomorrow.  Everybody needs to take a break from time to time.  It is often so easy to get so involved in the work and pressures in our lives. So stop, take a break, find something that you enjoy doing and do it!

There are many different things that a person could do.  Strictly speaking, goofing off is the avoidance of work. So whatever you do on National Goof Off Day, try not to look like you are working.  Use #NationalGoofOffDay to post on social media.

What do you plan to do for National Goof Off Day after you finish Unit 4 in Typing Agent?

Post #66: The First Day of Spring

Spring begins on the March or vernal equinox, which is when the amount of sunshine is approximately 12 hours long.  The amount of sunlight will incrementally increase until the first day of Summer.

The vernal equinox marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator.  This is the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator, from south to north. This happens on March 19, 20 or 21 every year.  

The time the sun crosses the equator marking the Vernal Equinox is different for each time zone.  For those in the Pacific, Mountain and Central time zones, this will occur on March 19th.  For those in the Eastern time zone, spring begins on March 20th at 12:30 a.m.

Spring is one of my favorite seasons.  Is Spring your favorite season? If so why? If not, what is your favorite season and why?

When you are done go to Typing Agent and begin Unit 4. You are expected to finish it by Wednesday.

Post #65: St. Patrick's Day & Corned Beef & Cabbage Day

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by millions of people across the globe.  People wear the color green, drink green beverages and decorate houses and businesses in shamrocks.  In fact, the wearing of the green is a tradition that dates back to a story written about St. Patrick in 1726.  St. Patrick (c. AD 385–461) was known to use the shamrock to illustrate the Holy Trinity and to have worn green clothing.

The Feast of St. Patrick started in the early 17 century.  The day marks the death of St. Patrick and was chosen as an official Christian feast day and is observed by the Catholic Church.  The day is also a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat. It is also widely celebrated by the Irish diaspora around the world, especially in Great Britain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.

National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day is observed annually on March 17th.  This seems to be fitting for St. Patrick’s Day in the United States.

To “corn” something is simply to preserve it in a salty brine (the term corn refers to the coarse grains of salt used for curing).

Corned beef is a salt-cured beef product. In the traditional Irish Corned Beef and Cabbage recipes, salt pork or bacon joint was used instead of corned beef.  Sometime in the mid-1800s when the Irish immigrated to America, they found that Jewish corned beef was very similar in texture to bacon joint (pork).  It was then that corned beef was used as a replacement for the bacon when preparing corned beef and cabbage meals.   Soon after, Irish-Americans began having Corned Beef and Cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day.

Corned beef and cabbage remains a popular food in many areas of the United States.

How will you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?  Will you eat any corned beef today?

When you finish go to Typing Agent and take the new typing test "Test 2: The Internet and the Web".

Post #64: National Everything You Think is Wrong Day

March 15th recognizes Everything You Think Is Wrong Day, a day where decision making should be avoided, as your thoughts are (according to the founder of this holiday) wrong.  It is also a day created for some people to realize that they are not always right.

While starting a conversation, one might want to avoid using the words “I think.” Everything You Think Is Wrong Day may be a time for all to contemplate our own lack of knowledge.  It is okay that one does not know everything, and if there is a need to feel as if you do, hold on. Tomorrow will be here soon, and then once again, you can think that you do!

Do you know anyone who thinks they are always right?  Who is it? Give me an example of them always thinking they are right.

When you are done complete Unit 3 in Typing Agent.

Post #63: National Jewel Day

National Jewel Day is observed March 13th of every year. While this day may be a day to give or receive jewelry, it could also be a day to recognize jewelers.   It may also be a day to wear those gems you may already have! 

Birthstones by Month

• January – Garnet
• February – Amethyst
• March – Aquamarine
• April – Diamond
• May – Emerald
• June – Pearl
• July – Ruby
• August – Peridot
• September – Sapphire
• October – Opal
• November – Yellow Topaz, Citrine
• December – Tanzanite, Zircon, Blue Topaz

What is your birthstone? Do you like it? Tell me (using a simile or metaphor) how you are like your birthstone. Place a picture of your birthstone in your blog.

When you are finished go to Typing Agent and begin Unit 3 (you will not be able to finish it today).

Post #62: National Mario Day

National Mario Day is observed each year on March 10th and honors Mario from the popular Nintendo game.

This gamer holiday is celebrated on March 10 because of the way the date appears, when abbreviated (Mar.10). It looks just like the name Mario.

• Mario, the Italian plumber, first appeared in Donkey Kong in 1981
•  In 1983 Mario got his own game with his brother Luigi
• Mario is known for being the most famous video game character ever created
• Over 210 million copies of the Mario game series have been sold

Mario Andretti (race car driver), Mario Batali (chef) and Mario Lopez (actor) are a few other famous Marios you might recognize.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Have some fun with friends playing this mario video game. 

http://www.mario-games-free.com/marioland.htm

When you are done go to Typing Agent and that the "Home Row Typing Test"

Post #61: National Peanut Cluster Day

March 8th is National Peanut Cluster Day!  Melted chocolate mixed with peanuts make a perfect combination for a sweet and salty deliciousness!

Two things had to happen for peanut clusters to even exist.  First, a method had to be invented for the cocoa bean to be processed and transformed into what we know as chocolate.  That process wasn’t widely used until about the late 1890s and just about the same time the second extraordinary thing happened; agriculture found a way to grow the peanut and bring it to the public with steal tools and steam power.  

It didn’t take long for confectioneries to add the now readily available peanuts to melted chocolate.  The sheer simplicity of the salty peanuts added to sweetened chocolate is a mouthwatering temptation few can resist, even today.

So what do you think? Do you like Peanut Clusters?  Why or why not?

When you are finished with your blog, go to Typing Agent and finish Unit 2.

The following people are finished with Unit 2

GURSHAAN GILL

Razmig Markarian

Jacob Marvin

Michael Sanchez

Ryan Seron

SOLOMON TESFAI

AHDA ZAHID

Everyone else needs to finish today.

Post #60: National Oreo Cookie Day

Be ready to observe by having your glass of milk handy as it is National Oreo Cookie Day.  This day is recognized across the nation each year on March 6th.

The Oreo sandwich cookie is made up of two chocolate disks containing a sweet cream filling and is loved by millions.  Since it’s introduction, the Oreo cookie has become the best-selling cookie in the United States.

Do you like Oreos? How do you eat your Oreos?

When you are finished with your blog, go to Typing Agent and begin Unit 2... You will need to finish this Unit by Wednesday.

Post #59: National Day of Unplugging

The first Friday in March of each year is National Day of Unplugging.  This holiday consists of a 24 hour period from sundown to sundown, to unplug, unwind, relax and do things other than using today’s technology, electronics and social media.

Do you think you could "unplug" for an entire day?  Why or why not?

When you are done go to Typing Agent and finish Unit 1 if you have not already!

Yes, we have an assignment today!

Post #58: National Peanut Butter Lover's Day

Ah, peanut butter. One day is not enough to recognize peanut butter. March 1st was made for National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day, and the many ways the goober has been paired, blended and added with tasty results!

The creamy, nutty goodness that is peanut butter is so amazingly delicious that when we pair it with creamy and dreamy chocolate, we almost have bacon.

Do you like peanut butter?  Tell me why or why not. If you do, which do you prefer... creamy or crunchy?

We will start a new typing program today...  I will distribute usernames and passwords in class.