From the NY Post: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/study_cell_phone_cancer_link_D1uu62C2zscTFCnzQTeZwO
"The WHO’s Interphone investigation’s results showed, "a significantly increased risk" of some brain tumors "related to use of mobile phones for a period of ten years or more," the Telegraph reported today.
The study’s head, Dr. Elisabeth Cardis, said, "In the absence of definitive results and in the light of a number of studies which, though limited, suggest a possible effect of radiofrequency radiation, precautions are important.""
Did anyone else notice that sentence 1 and sentence 2 of this quotation are at direct odds with one another? Also that the head of the study isn't saying anything at all (no definitive results, no description of what studies or by whom, how were they limited, or what the possible effect might be--super powers?)? In other words, since we don't know anything about anything, we should be careful.
"In the absence of definitive results" usually means the study didn't accomplish anything--you can spin it how you want to. US cell phone companies say, "There is no proof of cancer." WHO says, "It could cause cancer." BOTH statements are true. But both of the above-quoted statements would have a hard time being true--either it shows a significantly increased risk, or there are not definitive results. You can't have it both ways.
I would like to point out, though, that cell division could cause cancer, and that 100% of cancerous rats exposed to cats die. Also that in the absence of definitive results, we should all take precautions against Big Foot, Alien Abduction, and Poltergeists, since there are a number of studies which, though limited, suggest a possible effect of encounters with such beings, so precautions are important.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
I guess we were born to be gypsies!
I'm starting to feel like a disorganized gypsy again. My belongings are quite literally strewn across three states. Precious stuff, like family history, is stored in Las Vegas; the stuff that didn't fit and was left in the house went to Utah. And then early this week, we packed van and trailer as tight as we could with necessities and came back home.
Yes, back to our house on Hover in Colorado.
It was a kind of spur-of-the-moment move (turned out three of us had been thinking about it, and when we all finally started talking, it seemed like a good idea--the house was sitting empty, and we were staying with family. Why not move home?), so we ended up with random things--all the knives, but no measuring spoons; a whole package of pens, but only a couple sheets of paper; all the towels but none of the dishrags or wash cloths; a few most precious toys but not enough to keep everyone busy all day; bottle brush and bottles but no dish soap; frying pan and saucepan and 3 spatulas but no stirring spoons....you get the idea.
Fortunately, my wonderful aunt, Donella, who just moved out of this house, lives in the area. She came to my rescue with dinner, dishes, spices, baking pans, etc--not just things to get by, but things to really enjoy ourselves, including supplies for making pies (since she knows my extended family loves pies) and a BIG bag of toys for the kids. Hooray! AND she's letting us borrow her extra washing machine and fridge so we can function here.
It's weird to come full circle! Back where we started. It just took two years.
Had we known we would be coming back here, we would have been back as soon as Toxic Audio closed. And we would have missed out on some awesome experiences. How many musicians get to go to the world capitol of their particular art (Vegas is considered one of the entertainment capitols of the world, and there is more solo vocal/vocal ensemble music concentrated there than anywhere else) and spend 18 months studying every aspect of it? Tim is particularly adept at observing and analyzing what is going on (esp in performance) and then applying that information to his own shows, so it was a particularly useful time for him. He learned about every aspect of both creating and mounting a world-class vocal music show. It was like grad school in popular vocal music--something you still can't study in school.
I mean it. Seriously. There are commercial music programs, but where could he get a MM (Masters of Music) with an emphasis in popular vocal ensemble performance/conducting? You'd need whole classes in the difference between a concert and a show; mass entertainment versus building a fan base; presenting yourself (to the public and to auditioners); the role of talking in a music show/how to not bore a non-fan audience/programming a show; starting a new group from scratch; defining your image; learning from other performing genres; tech for musicians (audio and visual concerns); costuming; using technology in your show (you'd be surprised how few vocalists really know how to use a mic!), etc. That kind of a program doesn't exist. (He could teach one now, though, I suspect!)
So I'm really deeply ashamed of all my whining and fussing over my own personal discomfort in Las Vegas. Had God given me what I was begging for, Tim would have missed out on an incredibly valuable learning time. I would have short-circuited his future--our future--for my short-term comfort. That'll teach me not to trust God. I guess I'm still weak on faith...but I'm learning.
So now we're back in Longmont (and oh how I love this ugly old house on the busy street!), still blind to our future but with a LOT more knowledge than we had when we left.
Tim is excited to be here because there are unbelievably talented singers here who are anxious to work with him (they even look like they could be brothers...and they communicate that well and approach music performance that well, too). I've been laughing because we've had what we call the "too many bicycles" phenomenon (once we prayed for Tim to get a bike when we were totally broke and couldn't even spare $50 to buy a used one, and within a week we had 3--I think they were all free!). This time, we spent 2 years in Vegas praying for a bass to sing with Tim, and also a really great tenor. Now he's got a really great tenor (literally the only other man on earth whose singing voice is as appealing, flexible, and accurate as Tim's) and no less than 4 basses lined up, all of whom are also vocal percussionists! I hate seeing/hearing Tim sing bass to back up a soloist that isn't as good as he is (especially on songs he wrote/arranged for his voice as lead)--so this is delightful to me. Not only can Tim take the solos now if he wants to, all 5 of these guys are as good of soloists as he is! Now if we can just find that perfect female voice.....4 octave range and mellow through it all (no shrill notes), and able to both blend with and hold her own with 5 guys and no other female voices or instruments.
He's also excited because this house has a 500+ sq ft studio in the basement that is only semi-finished space right now, so we can finish it up with a filming corner (white wall with curved corners), a recording booth/home studio, and rehearsal space. It will be great work space for him.
And I'm excited because Colorado likes us, and we like Colorado. Here is the ward where I had writing friends. Here is the state that gave Tim the Impact Award for having the greatest impact on vocal ensemble music in the Rocky Mountains. Here is one of the best sound guys for mixing a cappella live. Here are people who welcome new music projects, are interested in novelty (Live Looping, here we come!), are not selfish as musicians. Here are decent (not great, but decent) home school laws. Here we feel at peace and at home.
I have no idea if we're staying a month or a decade. I guess we shall see!
Yes, back to our house on Hover in Colorado.
It was a kind of spur-of-the-moment move (turned out three of us had been thinking about it, and when we all finally started talking, it seemed like a good idea--the house was sitting empty, and we were staying with family. Why not move home?), so we ended up with random things--all the knives, but no measuring spoons; a whole package of pens, but only a couple sheets of paper; all the towels but none of the dishrags or wash cloths; a few most precious toys but not enough to keep everyone busy all day; bottle brush and bottles but no dish soap; frying pan and saucepan and 3 spatulas but no stirring spoons....you get the idea.
Fortunately, my wonderful aunt, Donella, who just moved out of this house, lives in the area. She came to my rescue with dinner, dishes, spices, baking pans, etc--not just things to get by, but things to really enjoy ourselves, including supplies for making pies (since she knows my extended family loves pies) and a BIG bag of toys for the kids. Hooray! AND she's letting us borrow her extra washing machine and fridge so we can function here.
It's weird to come full circle! Back where we started. It just took two years.
Had we known we would be coming back here, we would have been back as soon as Toxic Audio closed. And we would have missed out on some awesome experiences. How many musicians get to go to the world capitol of their particular art (Vegas is considered one of the entertainment capitols of the world, and there is more solo vocal/vocal ensemble music concentrated there than anywhere else) and spend 18 months studying every aspect of it? Tim is particularly adept at observing and analyzing what is going on (esp in performance) and then applying that information to his own shows, so it was a particularly useful time for him. He learned about every aspect of both creating and mounting a world-class vocal music show. It was like grad school in popular vocal music--something you still can't study in school.
I mean it. Seriously. There are commercial music programs, but where could he get a MM (Masters of Music) with an emphasis in popular vocal ensemble performance/conducting? You'd need whole classes in the difference between a concert and a show; mass entertainment versus building a fan base; presenting yourself (to the public and to auditioners); the role of talking in a music show/how to not bore a non-fan audience/programming a show; starting a new group from scratch; defining your image; learning from other performing genres; tech for musicians (audio and visual concerns); costuming; using technology in your show (you'd be surprised how few vocalists really know how to use a mic!), etc. That kind of a program doesn't exist. (He could teach one now, though, I suspect!)
So I'm really deeply ashamed of all my whining and fussing over my own personal discomfort in Las Vegas. Had God given me what I was begging for, Tim would have missed out on an incredibly valuable learning time. I would have short-circuited his future--our future--for my short-term comfort. That'll teach me not to trust God. I guess I'm still weak on faith...but I'm learning.
So now we're back in Longmont (and oh how I love this ugly old house on the busy street!), still blind to our future but with a LOT more knowledge than we had when we left.
Tim is excited to be here because there are unbelievably talented singers here who are anxious to work with him (they even look like they could be brothers...and they communicate that well and approach music performance that well, too). I've been laughing because we've had what we call the "too many bicycles" phenomenon (once we prayed for Tim to get a bike when we were totally broke and couldn't even spare $50 to buy a used one, and within a week we had 3--I think they were all free!). This time, we spent 2 years in Vegas praying for a bass to sing with Tim, and also a really great tenor. Now he's got a really great tenor (literally the only other man on earth whose singing voice is as appealing, flexible, and accurate as Tim's) and no less than 4 basses lined up, all of whom are also vocal percussionists! I hate seeing/hearing Tim sing bass to back up a soloist that isn't as good as he is (especially on songs he wrote/arranged for his voice as lead)--so this is delightful to me. Not only can Tim take the solos now if he wants to, all 5 of these guys are as good of soloists as he is! Now if we can just find that perfect female voice.....4 octave range and mellow through it all (no shrill notes), and able to both blend with and hold her own with 5 guys and no other female voices or instruments.
He's also excited because this house has a 500+ sq ft studio in the basement that is only semi-finished space right now, so we can finish it up with a filming corner (white wall with curved corners), a recording booth/home studio, and rehearsal space. It will be great work space for him.
And I'm excited because Colorado likes us, and we like Colorado. Here is the ward where I had writing friends. Here is the state that gave Tim the Impact Award for having the greatest impact on vocal ensemble music in the Rocky Mountains. Here is one of the best sound guys for mixing a cappella live. Here are people who welcome new music projects, are interested in novelty (Live Looping, here we come!), are not selfish as musicians. Here are decent (not great, but decent) home school laws. Here we feel at peace and at home.
I have no idea if we're staying a month or a decade. I guess we shall see!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Did I just see that?
from google news today:
Is the parked car sitting behind, or in front? I wonder....
Thank you, Mr. Obama
Well, at least now it's publicly acknowledged. For years, conservatives have been lambasted for claiming that the "mainstream media" was liberal.
Obama just forced them to admit it.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/23/eveningnews/main5415921.shtml?tag=stack
It was a great favor, of course, to the majority of the country, for him to expose his supporters as just that (since for decades they've claimed they were "unbiased" or "fair" or just cried foul when other said they were liberal-leaning). It reveals his extreme inexperience (and ineptitude) that he pointed out FoxNews as "not real news" and expected that to come off in his favor.
It does make me scary, though, if the rest of the world starts not loving him. His behavior with Fox News points out his immaturity in the face of opposition--exactly the kind of sophomoric behavior that could land us all in a war if some other country disses him in just the right way. He has revealed that his buttons are easily pushed. I would be interested to see what happens next if it wasn't my LIFE he's playing with.
Note to President: You are like the mommy--if you fight with the kids, then who is going to be the grownup? And, more importantly, who is going to teach the kids not to fight?
I don't mind that he exposed his cronies. I just hope they go after him so we can get someone else in there in 2012 (and hopefully the entire country isn't destroyed first!). After all, the media's prestige comes not from supporting power, but tearing it down. They were attacking the "power" of conservatism. Now maybe they'll go after our incompetent, power-grabbing president.
Obama just forced them to admit it.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/23/eveningnews/main5415921.shtml?tag=stack
It was a great favor, of course, to the majority of the country, for him to expose his supporters as just that (since for decades they've claimed they were "unbiased" or "fair" or just cried foul when other said they were liberal-leaning). It reveals his extreme inexperience (and ineptitude) that he pointed out FoxNews as "not real news" and expected that to come off in his favor.
It does make me scary, though, if the rest of the world starts not loving him. His behavior with Fox News points out his immaturity in the face of opposition--exactly the kind of sophomoric behavior that could land us all in a war if some other country disses him in just the right way. He has revealed that his buttons are easily pushed. I would be interested to see what happens next if it wasn't my LIFE he's playing with.
Note to President: You are like the mommy--if you fight with the kids, then who is going to be the grownup? And, more importantly, who is going to teach the kids not to fight?
I don't mind that he exposed his cronies. I just hope they go after him so we can get someone else in there in 2012 (and hopefully the entire country isn't destroyed first!). After all, the media's prestige comes not from supporting power, but tearing it down. They were attacking the "power" of conservatism. Now maybe they'll go after our incompetent, power-grabbing president.
Interesting article
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703573604574491290971140508.html?mod=rss_Today's_Most_Popular
If this article is right about the "haves" and "have nots", and we apply the "Rules for Radicals" behavior to other organizations around, then the religious people are the "haves" in the social debates. Interesting.
Not that we can back down and stop fighting for our constitutional rights to religion.
If this article is right about the "haves" and "have nots", and we apply the "Rules for Radicals" behavior to other organizations around, then the religious people are the "haves" in the social debates. Interesting.
Not that we can back down and stop fighting for our constitutional rights to religion.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Did I just read that?
from Boulder's Craigslist:
"The interior frame of this sofa is some kind of resin so it weighs very little. Pier 1 says they dropped one out of a second-story window to test it but we didn't try that with ours. Also, please don't burn this sofa during a riot since the resin might produce toxic vapors. "
Since people with couches in their homes are 1) involved in riots frequently and 2) burn their couches during said riots. Thanks for the warning.
Actually, this struck me as a very "boulder"ish kind of statement. Always aware of the environment there!
"The interior frame of this sofa is some kind of resin so it weighs very little. Pier 1 says they dropped one out of a second-story window to test it but we didn't try that with ours. Also, please don't burn this sofa during a riot since the resin might produce toxic vapors. "
Since people with couches in their homes are 1) involved in riots frequently and 2) burn their couches during said riots. Thanks for the warning.
Actually, this struck me as a very "boulder"ish kind of statement. Always aware of the environment there!
Did I just read that?
from Boulder Craigslist:
"Also open for people with learning disabilities:dwarfs,wheelchairs,blind,deaf,etc."
Like people who can't see, hear, walk, or (ahem) grow tall just had trouble learning that skill?
"Also open for people with learning disabilities:dwarfs,wheelchairs,blind,deaf,etc."
Like people who can't see, hear, walk, or (ahem) grow tall just had trouble learning that skill?
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Did I just read that?
from Foxnews.com:
"Missing 'Balloon Boy' Falcon Heen Was on 'Wife Swap'"
I thought he was in the attic when they found him!
"Missing 'Balloon Boy' Falcon Heen Was on 'Wife Swap'"
I thought he was in the attic when they found him!
Did I just read that?
Hopefully this doesn't offend.
I found this on Foxnews.com:
"Former Teacher Found Not Guilty Having Sex With Student"
He is? Right now? Obviously he's guilty of something here!
(In case you're confused, "found not guilty" modifies "teacher" and can be left out to clarify what this sentence actually says. You really can't ignore the little words!)
I found this on Foxnews.com:
"Former Teacher Found Not Guilty Having Sex With Student"
He is? Right now? Obviously he's guilty of something here!
(In case you're confused, "found not guilty" modifies "teacher" and can be left out to clarify what this sentence actually says. You really can't ignore the little words!)
Did I just read that?
From the same section of google news tonight:
"Precautions in place to protect Fair swine from H1N1 WRAL.com"
Ugly swine? Sorry. No protection for them.
And this one:
"Three Pigs May Be the First in the US With Swine Flu New York Times"
And the Big Bad Wolf gave it to them!
No, but even that aside, three can't all be the first. Ask any first grader.
"Precautions in place to protect Fair swine from H1N1 WRAL.com"
Ugly swine? Sorry. No protection for them.
And this one:
"Three Pigs May Be the First in the US With Swine Flu New York Times"
And the Big Bad Wolf gave it to them!
No, but even that aside, three can't all be the first. Ask any first grader.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Rainbows
For my birthday, I got a rainbow.
We were just getting ready to go out shopping when there was a sudden, intense rainfall that I really didn't want to venture out in. It was a classic sudden downpour that stopped us in our tracks and forced us to stand still and wait. And when it began to peter out, something told me I should look out to the East.
There was a beautiful, bright, complete double rainbow. Prettiest I've ever seen.
I called all my children, and as we stood there gazing at it, I realized that the rainbow didn't just follow the cold, uncomfortable, unexpected, intense rainfall that had interrupted my plans. It happened because of the rain. In fact, the beauty I was gazing on was impossible without having first waited through the rain.
Perhaps the beauty (and blessings) come because of the trials, not merely as compensation for having suffered through them.
We were just getting ready to go out shopping when there was a sudden, intense rainfall that I really didn't want to venture out in. It was a classic sudden downpour that stopped us in our tracks and forced us to stand still and wait. And when it began to peter out, something told me I should look out to the East.
There was a beautiful, bright, complete double rainbow. Prettiest I've ever seen.
I called all my children, and as we stood there gazing at it, I realized that the rainbow didn't just follow the cold, uncomfortable, unexpected, intense rainfall that had interrupted my plans. It happened because of the rain. In fact, the beauty I was gazing on was impossible without having first waited through the rain.
Perhaps the beauty (and blessings) come because of the trials, not merely as compensation for having suffered through them.
Did I just read that?
From foxnews.com today:
"A Delta airliner en route from Seattle to Atlanta made an unscheduled stop in Nashville after a passenger reportedly began quoting Bible passages. No one was hurt."
And then this: "WSMV-TV in Nashville reported that a passenger had to be subdued by other passengers after quoting the Bible."
Since Bible passages are so dangerous and painful....
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,565582,00.html?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a16:g2:r4:c0.111206:b28306028:z10
(This adds to the whole picture, but doesn't fix the issues with the article: "According to a police arrest warrant, "The suspect would not allow the person sitting next to him to leave her seat to use the restroom. The suspect kept telling her that his blood would be on her and he was not going to let her leave no matter what happened. Several passengers restrained the suspect and the suspect attempted to bite one of the passengers in the leg."" I'm trying to figure out how restraining someone gives them access to your leg? What kind of restraining were they doing? And where's the Bible quoting in that?)
"A Delta airliner en route from Seattle to Atlanta made an unscheduled stop in Nashville after a passenger reportedly began quoting Bible passages. No one was hurt."
And then this: "WSMV-TV in Nashville reported that a passenger had to be subdued by other passengers after quoting the Bible."
Since Bible passages are so dangerous and painful....
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,565582,00.html?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a16:g2:r4:c0.111206:b28306028:z10
(This adds to the whole picture, but doesn't fix the issues with the article: "According to a police arrest warrant, "The suspect would not allow the person sitting next to him to leave her seat to use the restroom. The suspect kept telling her that his blood would be on her and he was not going to let her leave no matter what happened. Several passengers restrained the suspect and the suspect attempted to bite one of the passengers in the leg."" I'm trying to figure out how restraining someone gives them access to your leg? What kind of restraining were they doing? And where's the Bible quoting in that?)
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
The Nobel Good Intentions Prize
So they say he got a Nobel Peace Prize for wanting peace. I know some college kids--make that lots of college, junior high, and high school kids--who deserve the prize as much as he does.
Especially since Obama is saying, "Things are getting better. The Economy is better!" and yet things like this are popping up more and more frequently:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/the-real-reason-the-giant-insolvent-banks-arent-being-broken-up.html
When the top is wicked, the rest of us suffer.
And when the rest of the world praises us for accepting wickedness...I mean, "efforts for peace" (ie lying)--we're in serious trouble.
Still.
Especially since Obama is saying, "Things are getting better. The Economy is better!" and yet things like this are popping up more and more frequently:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/the-real-reason-the-giant-insolvent-banks-arent-being-broken-up.html
When the top is wicked, the rest of us suffer.
And when the rest of the world praises us for accepting wickedness...I mean, "efforts for peace" (ie lying)--we're in serious trouble.
Still.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Homeschool Halloween Activities
What about bats? Why do we trick or treat? Wanna write a mystery?
Here are LOADS of educational activities that go with Halloween!
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collection.jsp?id=106
Here are LOADS of educational activities that go with Halloween!
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collection.jsp?id=106
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
An Unabashedly Religious Post
I found these verses while I was studying the scriptures last night:
D&C 42 " 61 If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive arevelation upon revelation, bknowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the cmysteries and dpeaceable things—that which bringeth ejoy, that which bringeth life eternal." and " 68 Therefore, he that lacketh awisdom, let him ask of me, and I will give him liberally and upbraid him not."
I realized that's what I want.
But unlike Joseph Smith, I didn't know what to ask--only that I lack wisdom in so many many things, and that I want revelations, knowledge, peaceable things, joy--life eternal.
These two verses told me a lot (again--not any of it new, but wonderful to ponder right now) about HOW God loves his children--not from afar, and not as a superior and haughty distant being, but intimately, as a father who is anxious to spend time with his children. Think how much you miss your loved ones when you are apart! That, I think, is a small taste of how God feels with us gone from his home for a short time. It's not that he WANTS to hold stuff back and keep secrets. He wants to give liberally and won't get mad at or mock us for asking.
I realized that the revelations, knowledge, and wisdom we lack and can get answers on are not always about testimony-things, but also about our own personal concerns. Joseph Smith didn't lack wisdom about the nature of God (or rather, he did but he didn't know it). His question was about what church to go to. Yes, it's a religious question. But it's also a very practical question. He wasn't looking for prophetic insight, although that is what he got. He was looking for a straightforward hint to solve an everyday problem he was struggling with.
And suddenly I am aware of a myriad ways I lack wisdom in practical things--How to get prayers said wide awake when the only quiet time in the day is after everyone is asleep--and I'm too weary to keep my own eyes open? How to organize my time and energy? How to deal with the laundry situation? How to deal with feeding my family (which I am, as yet, unsuccessful at in Utah)? How to get my quilt pattern finished so I can start sewing? What on earth to do about homeschooling--I have been ignoring a vague discontent I feel about it?
Because God does care, and he does know, and he can tell us even those things.
(and, by the way, it worked--and tomorrow I will start sewing, and re-doing our homeschool setup).
D&C 42 " 61 If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive arevelation upon revelation, bknowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the cmysteries and dpeaceable things—that which bringeth ejoy, that which bringeth life eternal." and " 68 Therefore, he that lacketh awisdom, let him ask of me, and I will give him liberally and upbraid him not."
I realized that's what I want.
But unlike Joseph Smith, I didn't know what to ask--only that I lack wisdom in so many many things, and that I want revelations, knowledge, peaceable things, joy--life eternal.
These two verses told me a lot (again--not any of it new, but wonderful to ponder right now) about HOW God loves his children--not from afar, and not as a superior and haughty distant being, but intimately, as a father who is anxious to spend time with his children. Think how much you miss your loved ones when you are apart! That, I think, is a small taste of how God feels with us gone from his home for a short time. It's not that he WANTS to hold stuff back and keep secrets. He wants to give liberally and won't get mad at or mock us for asking.
I realized that the revelations, knowledge, and wisdom we lack and can get answers on are not always about testimony-things, but also about our own personal concerns. Joseph Smith didn't lack wisdom about the nature of God (or rather, he did but he didn't know it). His question was about what church to go to. Yes, it's a religious question. But it's also a very practical question. He wasn't looking for prophetic insight, although that is what he got. He was looking for a straightforward hint to solve an everyday problem he was struggling with.
And suddenly I am aware of a myriad ways I lack wisdom in practical things--How to get prayers said wide awake when the only quiet time in the day is after everyone is asleep--and I'm too weary to keep my own eyes open? How to organize my time and energy? How to deal with the laundry situation? How to deal with feeding my family (which I am, as yet, unsuccessful at in Utah)? How to get my quilt pattern finished so I can start sewing? What on earth to do about homeschooling--I have been ignoring a vague discontent I feel about it?
Because God does care, and he does know, and he can tell us even those things.
(and, by the way, it worked--and tomorrow I will start sewing, and re-doing our homeschool setup).
A Homeschool Crisis
While I am perfectly happy with Time4Learning.com for the lower school education of my kids, I am not really pleased with their upper school. Why? Because I AM a middle school teacher, and I know I can do better than read the book/answer the questions.
And with all the free resources out there, why shouldn't I? I love creating lessons. I love teaching. I think I can make fun lessons that the kids can "log into" online the same as they do onto Time4Learning, but for free. That's what Learning Lynx (my other blog) was supposed to be. It just got dropped during our move, and I guess I'm ready to get going again.
So I sat down to think it through and came up with a few guidelines on teaching my own children school lessons:
#1) Learning is fun.
#2) I can do it better than the public schools.
#3) We can take the 13th Article of Faith as our guide: "If there is anything hvirtuous,ilovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." The purpose of elementary education is not stuffing heads with facts, but exposure to everything good and giving kids the chance to discover their own talents.
#4) The Truth (and Resources) are out there. Education should be free to all--and somewhere online I can find the resources to teach ANY subject kids need to learn, and teach it well.
#5) K-6, they're gonna do it all again, anyway, so if they learn to read and get their math, nothing else content-wise matters, only that there is content and that we don't destroy #1.
#6) Concepts over detail. No need to memorize dates, facts, etc (except in math). They won't retain it anyway. Did you? Better to teach concepts and How to Find Information. Then if they need to know the Year the Revolutionary War Ended, they can look it up. Just like you have to. (In other words, memorizing minutiae is a complete waste of time, and time is too precious to waste).
Given that, I decided there are only 4 areas that need to be covered. Math, Science, Social Science, and Humanities.
We got math covered. I'm happy with pre-K--level 2 math with Time4Learning. After that, we hit Saxon 54 and move forward with Saxon (Did you know you can put the math facts into a google docs "form" and email it to your students, and they can fill it out online and hit "submit" and the answers are automatically inserted into a spreadsheet, making it easy to check the answers? Very cool, huh.)
I think it's a mistake to group the Humanities as "Social Studies" and "Art" like public schools do. The social/soft sciences, like Psychology, Sociology, Political Science/Government, Economics, and Anthropology should be taught. But they don't need to be mixed with history, which is better paired with the rest of the humanities. Humanities traditionally covers the arts, literature, history, music--things that humans produce and their history. It is, I suppose, the archaic way of saying "social studies" (see the similarities--Human-ities?), but then social studies came along so kids could study the social sciences as well as the social arts, and it got to be a big mess.
Anyway, what I want to do is create lessons that approach history from the story perspective instead of the dates of military movements perspective. I prefer to take each of the eras in human history and discuss it from two perspectives: What life was like then and What happened then--both in the arts and in the political sphere. Wouldn't the US Revolution, for example, stick with elementary school kids so much better if we ditched the memorizing dates and names and instead talked about life in that time period (eating the foods, seeing the clothes and houses, etc) and then what mattered to people, what made them angry, what they could do about things to improve their lives, what they did, who the leaders were, etc. As a great story--because it IS a great story. So why not teach it that way, complete with not only the major plot points, but with the plot, characters, setting, and remembering that "plot" means "problem and solution". It's an incredibly appealing approach and encompasses all the arts, literature, etc.
The idea that's mulling around in my brain is to take up to a whole year to study an epoch, like the Renaissance, and do all the humanities, history of science, literature, etc all together in one big context for the Humanities portion of the schooling. And then do other things we want to learn about (Math, geography, sciences, etc) too.
Likewise, from my perspective (as a non scientist), there seem to be 5 branches of science we should study: Earth Science, Physical Science (matter and energy, mostly), Life Science, Astronomy, and Human Science (which I know is a part of life science, but warrants separate study by children so they understand health, nutrition, physiology, etc). Why study, for example, weather (which all elementary students do over and over) without putting it in the greater context of earth science, with geology, paleontology, oceanography, etc? It seems like they are so intertwined that it is more effective to use the macro instead of micro approach to learning.
Social Sciences I might take from a more traditional "topics" basis. Mixing Government and Psychology is some sort of meta-socialscience doesn't seem beneficial at this level.
So I'm revamping Learning Lynx (mentally first, and then in actuality). I think I might use it as a forum to post my children's lessons for the day so that other parents can use them, too. It just depends on how much energy I have, how much motivation, how much time.
After all, one of the reasons we homeschool, some of us, is to follow our educational whims. And some days that means harvesting the grapes and making grape juice with grandma on the farm instead of getting online and "doing lessons".
Of course, if I succeed at this, the lessons will be so fun, the kids will look forward to doing them!
And with all the free resources out there, why shouldn't I? I love creating lessons. I love teaching. I think I can make fun lessons that the kids can "log into" online the same as they do onto Time4Learning, but for free. That's what Learning Lynx (my other blog) was supposed to be. It just got dropped during our move, and I guess I'm ready to get going again.
So I sat down to think it through and came up with a few guidelines on teaching my own children school lessons:
#1) Learning is fun.
#2) I can do it better than the public schools.
#3) We can take the 13th Article of Faith as our guide: "If there is anything hvirtuous,ilovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." The purpose of elementary education is not stuffing heads with facts, but exposure to everything good and giving kids the chance to discover their own talents.
#4) The Truth (and Resources) are out there. Education should be free to all--and somewhere online I can find the resources to teach ANY subject kids need to learn, and teach it well.
#5) K-6, they're gonna do it all again, anyway, so if they learn to read and get their math, nothing else content-wise matters, only that there is content and that we don't destroy #1.
#6) Concepts over detail. No need to memorize dates, facts, etc (except in math). They won't retain it anyway. Did you? Better to teach concepts and How to Find Information. Then if they need to know the Year the Revolutionary War Ended, they can look it up. Just like you have to. (In other words, memorizing minutiae is a complete waste of time, and time is too precious to waste).
Given that, I decided there are only 4 areas that need to be covered. Math, Science, Social Science, and Humanities.
We got math covered. I'm happy with pre-K--level 2 math with Time4Learning. After that, we hit Saxon 54 and move forward with Saxon (Did you know you can put the math facts into a google docs "form" and email it to your students, and they can fill it out online and hit "submit" and the answers are automatically inserted into a spreadsheet, making it easy to check the answers? Very cool, huh.)
I think it's a mistake to group the Humanities as "Social Studies" and "Art" like public schools do. The social/soft sciences, like Psychology, Sociology, Political Science/Government, Economics, and Anthropology should be taught. But they don't need to be mixed with history, which is better paired with the rest of the humanities. Humanities traditionally covers the arts, literature, history, music--things that humans produce and their history. It is, I suppose, the archaic way of saying "social studies" (see the similarities--Human-ities?), but then social studies came along so kids could study the social sciences as well as the social arts, and it got to be a big mess.
Anyway, what I want to do is create lessons that approach history from the story perspective instead of the dates of military movements perspective. I prefer to take each of the eras in human history and discuss it from two perspectives: What life was like then and What happened then--both in the arts and in the political sphere. Wouldn't the US Revolution, for example, stick with elementary school kids so much better if we ditched the memorizing dates and names and instead talked about life in that time period (eating the foods, seeing the clothes and houses, etc) and then what mattered to people, what made them angry, what they could do about things to improve their lives, what they did, who the leaders were, etc. As a great story--because it IS a great story. So why not teach it that way, complete with not only the major plot points, but with the plot, characters, setting, and remembering that "plot" means "problem and solution". It's an incredibly appealing approach and encompasses all the arts, literature, etc.
The idea that's mulling around in my brain is to take up to a whole year to study an epoch, like the Renaissance, and do all the humanities, history of science, literature, etc all together in one big context for the Humanities portion of the schooling. And then do other things we want to learn about (Math, geography, sciences, etc) too.
Likewise, from my perspective (as a non scientist), there seem to be 5 branches of science we should study: Earth Science, Physical Science (matter and energy, mostly), Life Science, Astronomy, and Human Science (which I know is a part of life science, but warrants separate study by children so they understand health, nutrition, physiology, etc). Why study, for example, weather (which all elementary students do over and over) without putting it in the greater context of earth science, with geology, paleontology, oceanography, etc? It seems like they are so intertwined that it is more effective to use the macro instead of micro approach to learning.
Social Sciences I might take from a more traditional "topics" basis. Mixing Government and Psychology is some sort of meta-socialscience doesn't seem beneficial at this level.
So I'm revamping Learning Lynx (mentally first, and then in actuality). I think I might use it as a forum to post my children's lessons for the day so that other parents can use them, too. It just depends on how much energy I have, how much motivation, how much time.
After all, one of the reasons we homeschool, some of us, is to follow our educational whims. And some days that means harvesting the grapes and making grape juice with grandma on the farm instead of getting online and "doing lessons".
Of course, if I succeed at this, the lessons will be so fun, the kids will look forward to doing them!
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
You keep asking...
Friends keep asking what's up with Sing Off.
I don't know.
These guys heard something, I suspect weren't supposed to tell, but the news is out:
http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/more_names/blog/2009/10/tufts_singers_on_nbc_maybe.html
If we haven't heard, then what does that mean?
I don't know.
These guys heard something, I suspect weren't supposed to tell, but the news is out:
http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/more_names/blog/2009/10/tufts_singers_on_nbc_maybe.html
If we haven't heard, then what does that mean?
Love this article
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/04/california-failing-state-debt
My favorite line: "You know you have a problem when Nevada – famed for nothing more than Las Vegas, casinos and desert – is laughing at you." It says so much about both Nevada and California!
I like this one, too: ""There is people that sometimes suggest that the American dream, or the Californian dream, is evaporating. I think it's absolutely wrong. I think the Californian dream is as strong as ever," he says, mangling the grammar but not the sentiment."
"Mangling the grammar." LOL.
"If California was an experiment then it was an experiment of mass irresponsibility – and that has failed," says Michael Levine.
If that's what CA was, what was Nevada? Nevada didn't just value irresponsibility--it promoted it, advertised it, built its economy on it. And on sin. I hate to say it, but perhaps these states deserve what they have built for themselves?
Now Riofrio has stopped selling booze in a one-man bid to curb the social problems breaking out all around him.
A hero!
If America emerges from its crisis a greener, more economically and politically responsible nation, it is likely that renewal will have begun here.
Now we know what the rest of the world sees us as: economically, socially, and politically irresponsible. And they're right. Perhaps it's time for America to stop being a teenage nation and grow up.
My favorite line: "You know you have a problem when Nevada – famed for nothing more than Las Vegas, casinos and desert – is laughing at you." It says so much about both Nevada and California!
I like this one, too: ""There is people that sometimes suggest that the American dream, or the Californian dream, is evaporating. I think it's absolutely wrong. I think the Californian dream is as strong as ever," he says, mangling the grammar but not the sentiment."
"Mangling the grammar." LOL.
"If California was an experiment then it was an experiment of mass irresponsibility – and that has failed," says Michael Levine.
If that's what CA was, what was Nevada? Nevada didn't just value irresponsibility--it promoted it, advertised it, built its economy on it. And on sin. I hate to say it, but perhaps these states deserve what they have built for themselves?
Now Riofrio has stopped selling booze in a one-man bid to curb the social problems breaking out all around him.
A hero!
If America emerges from its crisis a greener, more economically and politically responsible nation, it is likely that renewal will have begun here.
Now we know what the rest of the world sees us as: economically, socially, and politically irresponsible. And they're right. Perhaps it's time for America to stop being a teenage nation and grow up.
Homeschool Tip of the Day
Check out Scholastic! This might just be the best resource I've found online yet. And that's saying a lot.
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/learn.jsp
The math mysteries are awesome.
The "writing with writers workshop" is incredible--some of the best writers teaching writing in their specialties (like Jane Yolen teaching writing myths). And your student can publish online at the end of the process. (http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/index.htm)
You should go see. I could practically homeschool my kids from this site alone.
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/learn.jsp
The math mysteries are awesome.
The "writing with writers workshop" is incredible--some of the best writers teaching writing in their specialties (like Jane Yolen teaching writing myths). And your student can publish online at the end of the process. (http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/index.htm)
You should go see. I could practically homeschool my kids from this site alone.
Did I just read that?
No errors in this one, just a outlandish ideas that are so far out it made me laugh.
From Rodale's Book of Practical Formulas, pg 46:
"Good idea! To add texture to a baked potato, garnish with a low-fat topping and sprinkle on shredded raw carrots or beets. Top it all off with lightly toasted sunflower seeds." And then feed it to a rabbit.
Seriously--what kind of texture do they like to add, the same one you get when your potato is not cooked enough? That sounds appealing. Baked potatoes--now with less fat and added texture!
Page 48: "For a yogurt treat appealing to children, spoon newly frozen yogurt into popsicle molds, freeze, and serve."
Since yogurt usually doesn't appeal to children?
And how do you spoon it if it's frozen? Why does the "newly" part matter? And what difference will it make to freeze it again?
And Page 49: "If you're serving carbonated beverages, be sure to stock up on club soda, sparkling mineral water, tonic water, and ginger ale."
Since you need mixers for soda like you do for alcohol? Because people who want carbonated beverages really want to drink most of these? (Have you ever tasted tonic water?).
From Rodale's Book of Practical Formulas, pg 46:
"Good idea! To add texture to a baked potato, garnish with a low-fat topping and sprinkle on shredded raw carrots or beets. Top it all off with lightly toasted sunflower seeds." And then feed it to a rabbit.
Seriously--what kind of texture do they like to add, the same one you get when your potato is not cooked enough? That sounds appealing. Baked potatoes--now with less fat and added texture!
Page 48: "For a yogurt treat appealing to children, spoon newly frozen yogurt into popsicle molds, freeze, and serve."
Since yogurt usually doesn't appeal to children?
And how do you spoon it if it's frozen? Why does the "newly" part matter? And what difference will it make to freeze it again?
And Page 49: "If you're serving carbonated beverages, be sure to stock up on club soda, sparkling mineral water, tonic water, and ginger ale."
Since you need mixers for soda like you do for alcohol? Because people who want carbonated beverages really want to drink most of these? (Have you ever tasted tonic water?).
Did I just read that?
From Rodale's Book of Practical Formulas, ed by Paula Dreifus Bakule, pg 44:
"To cut back on salt, keep this convenient mix on your kitchen counter instead of your salt shaker. It compliments the flavor of any red meat."
First, I don't generally keep anything on my salt shaker. The surface area is too small, and it makes it hard to use the salt shaker. So yes, the kitchen counter would be the place for a convenient mix--not the salt shaker.
Second, I really need to make this mix. I'm just dying to hear it compliment my meat--"Oh, my darling rump roast--your flavor is so succulent and rich when you are cooked all day in that crock pot!"
And these weren't even in a craigslist posting! This is an honest-to-goodness hardcover book!
"To cut back on salt, keep this convenient mix on your kitchen counter instead of your salt shaker. It compliments the flavor of any red meat."
First, I don't generally keep anything on my salt shaker. The surface area is too small, and it makes it hard to use the salt shaker. So yes, the kitchen counter would be the place for a convenient mix--not the salt shaker.
Second, I really need to make this mix. I'm just dying to hear it compliment my meat--"Oh, my darling rump roast--your flavor is so succulent and rich when you are cooked all day in that crock pot!"
And these weren't even in a craigslist posting! This is an honest-to-goodness hardcover book!
Monday, October 05, 2009
Did I just read that?
from craigslist today:
"My client has been nominated to the Latin Grammy's and we're looking for a stunishing girl to accompany him to the gala. What we are not looking for: an escort service. "
What is a "stunishing girl?"
"My client has been nominated to the Latin Grammy's and we're looking for a stunishing girl to accompany him to the gala. What we are not looking for: an escort service. "
What is a "stunishing girl?"
Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Someone should take these cases to court as examples of cruel and unusual punishment, which is unconstitutional.
What happened to warrants? Warnings? Do gang members and child abusers get more rights than small businesses?
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/05/criminalizing-everyone/
What happened to warrants? Warnings? Do gang members and child abusers get more rights than small businesses?
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/05/criminalizing-everyone/
Did I just read that?
from google news tonight:
"Weather helping crews keep Sheep fire in check
"Weather helping crews keep Sheep fire in check
Los Angeles Times -
"Good thing. Those sheep can be dangerous when they're burning!
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Part of a Healthy Breakfast?
Three of these are usually considered breakfast foods; one is generally served for dessert. Can you guess which is the "treat"?
Bowl Number 1's Nutrition facts:
Calories: 265
Total Fat: 5.3 g
Cholesterol: 17.5 mg
Sodium: 402 mg
Potassium: NL (not listed)
Total Carbs: 51.6 g
Protein: 9.1 g
Bowl Number 2's Nutrition facts:
Calories: 185
Total Fat: 5 g
Cholesterol: 17.5 mg
Sodium: 250 mg
Potassium: 280 mg
Total Carbs: 29g
Protien: 6 g
Bowl Number 3's Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 140
Total Fat: 7g
Cholesterol: 30 mg
Sodium: 55 mg
Potassium: 130mg
Total Carbs: 17 g
Protein: 2 g
Bowl Number 4's Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 520
Total Fat: 14 g
Cholesterol: 58 mg
Sodium: 1104 mg
Potassium: NL
Total Carbs: 90.9 g
Protein: 8.3 g
Because one of these bowls has 100% of some vitamins added, we'll assume you take a multi-vitamin every day with breakfast to level the playing field on that count, so the vitamin content doesn't matter. Which bowl do you choose?
I chose 3--it has the lowest calories, lowest sodium (by a LOT), and lowest carbs, with not much more fat than 1 and 2, and is significantly less on everything except protein than bowl 4.
Did you guess what each one was?
Bowl number 1 is Raisin Bran with 1/2 c whole milk.
Bowl number 2 is Total Cereal with 1/2 c whole milk.
Bowl number 3 is vanilla ice cream.
Bowl number 4 is two pancakes with butter and syrup.
Looks like breakfast just got a whole lot tastier!
Bowl Number 1's Nutrition facts:
Calories: 265
Total Fat: 5.3 g
Cholesterol: 17.5 mg
Sodium: 402 mg
Potassium: NL (not listed)
Total Carbs: 51.6 g
Protein: 9.1 g
Bowl Number 2's Nutrition facts:
Calories: 185
Total Fat: 5 g
Cholesterol: 17.5 mg
Sodium: 250 mg
Potassium: 280 mg
Total Carbs: 29g
Protien: 6 g
Bowl Number 3's Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 140
Total Fat: 7g
Cholesterol: 30 mg
Sodium: 55 mg
Potassium: 130mg
Total Carbs: 17 g
Protein: 2 g
Bowl Number 4's Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 520
Total Fat: 14 g
Cholesterol: 58 mg
Sodium: 1104 mg
Potassium: NL
Total Carbs: 90.9 g
Protein: 8.3 g
Because one of these bowls has 100% of some vitamins added, we'll assume you take a multi-vitamin every day with breakfast to level the playing field on that count, so the vitamin content doesn't matter. Which bowl do you choose?
I chose 3--it has the lowest calories, lowest sodium (by a LOT), and lowest carbs, with not much more fat than 1 and 2, and is significantly less on everything except protein than bowl 4.
Did you guess what each one was?
Bowl number 1 is Raisin Bran with 1/2 c whole milk.
Bowl number 2 is Total Cereal with 1/2 c whole milk.
Bowl number 3 is vanilla ice cream.
Bowl number 4 is two pancakes with butter and syrup.
Looks like breakfast just got a whole lot tastier!
Saturday, October 03, 2009
I haven't talked about writing in a long time!
Moving and then computer troubles interfered with my novel and gave me some bad habits (like reading the news online all day).
So I got my computer fixed up, set up, and ready to go.
And still didn't use it.
I realized last night that I had broken the habit of writing every day by not doing it for 2 months, so I forced myself to open my novel and start reading.
And I was pleasantly surprised. The characters were far more round than I had feared (first drafts are plot drafts for me--I deal with the character development on the rewrites). I cleaned up some wordy sections, noted one spot that was structured so that you don't feel any intensity even though the main characters are escaping the witches, and decided my children are probably wrong--I think it's okay to explode a dog in the second chapter. (They keep saying "Can't the witch just blow it's tail off?" or "Why don't you blow up the castle full of witches instead?" or "why doesn't she miss?").
I thought I was writing lightweight, slightly comic fairytales, but it turns out that's not what I do. No matter how I start, I write action/adventure stories. Think fairytale thriller, mistaken identity, missing persons...that kind of stuff. With fairytale characters and magic. (If I try to write a play, however, it comes out surrealist comedy. Go figure.).
Anyway, it was nice to start writing again. Fun, relaxing, good.
Now if I can just finish!
So I got my computer fixed up, set up, and ready to go.
And still didn't use it.
I realized last night that I had broken the habit of writing every day by not doing it for 2 months, so I forced myself to open my novel and start reading.
And I was pleasantly surprised. The characters were far more round than I had feared (first drafts are plot drafts for me--I deal with the character development on the rewrites). I cleaned up some wordy sections, noted one spot that was structured so that you don't feel any intensity even though the main characters are escaping the witches, and decided my children are probably wrong--I think it's okay to explode a dog in the second chapter. (They keep saying "Can't the witch just blow it's tail off?" or "Why don't you blow up the castle full of witches instead?" or "why doesn't she miss?").
I thought I was writing lightweight, slightly comic fairytales, but it turns out that's not what I do. No matter how I start, I write action/adventure stories. Think fairytale thriller, mistaken identity, missing persons...that kind of stuff. With fairytale characters and magic. (If I try to write a play, however, it comes out surrealist comedy. Go figure.).
Anyway, it was nice to start writing again. Fun, relaxing, good.
Now if I can just finish!
Did I just read that?
Someone else's fun collection of "did I just read thats"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/6240537/Guerrilla-signs-15-funny-road-and-rail-notices.html
My favorite is Number 6.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/6240537/Guerrilla-signs-15-funny-road-and-rail-notices.html
My favorite is Number 6.
Did I just read that?
from google news:
"McChrystal Flown to Denmark To Discuss War With Obama"
Seems a little extreme--going to war with one man? But I guess some Americans are mad enough at him--why not the Danish, too?
"McChrystal Flown to Denmark To Discuss War With Obama"
Seems a little extreme--going to war with one man? But I guess some Americans are mad enough at him--why not the Danish, too?
Friday, October 02, 2009
Did I just read that?
A real winner from http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2009/08/jackson_a_cappella_group_gets.html:
"Jackson a cappella group gets shot at national TV gig"
I think they meant "a shot at national TV gig"--the article was all about them auditioning for Sing Off!
"Jackson a cappella group gets shot at national TV gig"
I think they meant "a shot at national TV gig"--the article was all about them auditioning for Sing Off!
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Did I just read that?
from las vegas craigslist:
"I need a dope engineer - (Las Vegas)"
Since we advertise for drug makers openly now.
"I need a dope engineer - (Las Vegas)"
Since we advertise for drug makers openly now.
Did I just read that?
Headline on Foxnews.com home page tonight:
"
"
School Rethinks Religious Banner Ban
Public school overturns Bible sign ban on football field, designates area for banners 50 yards from field"
So the school officials now have to stand in a designated area 50 yards from the field? I mean, they are the banners, right? They banned something. They are banners of banners.
Did I just read that?
from google news:
"Most Babies Born Today May Live Past 100
Technically, most babies born EVER may live past 100. But it is nice of ABC news to give them permission.
Or, using the other definition of "may", nice to notice that they might.
Or they might not.
"Most Babies Born Today May Live Past 100
ABC News -
- Technically, most babies born EVER may live past 100. But it is nice of ABC news to give them permission.
Or, using the other definition of "may", nice to notice that they might.
Or they might not.
Did I just read that?
Not a typo or mistake in language, but definitely flawed logic here. I realize the whole world is going through tribulations right now, and that people have spun the global warming thing to cover all kinds of political drives for funding. But this one was ridiculous!
"It could be that the 2016 Games are the last Olympics in the history of mankind," Ishihara told reporters at a Tokyo 2016 press event ahead of the vote.
"Global warming is getting worse. We have to come up with measures without which Olympic Games could not last long.
"Scientists have said we have passed the point of no return," said Ishihara. http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSLU38985020090930
Could somebody please explain to me how Global Warming is a threat to an athletic competition? I think this makes the list of stupidest things politicians have ever said.
This translation had us all laughing our pants off
I hope this isn't a link to a malware site. It's a blog re-posting of moosebutter/corey vidal's Star Wars video, translated into English (from what? I don't know).
It is so so so funny.
http://youtubeuk.start4all.com/2009/09/28/youtube-star-wars-john-williams-is-the-man-an-a-cappella-peter-pence-hq-closed-captioned/
It is so so so funny.
http://youtubeuk.start4all.com/2009/09/28/youtube-star-wars-john-williams-is-the-man-an-a-cappella-peter-pence-hq-closed-captioned/
Chat between Caleb and his Dad--unedited
"Caleb: No. Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote. Road Runner created a massive dust cloud and all of a sudden, the cloud is in the sky along with the other two! Road Runner on a ledge, though.
Mister Tim: Chuck Jones: defies physics.
Regularly.
Caleb: TEENY UMBRELLA TO SHIELD AGAINST MASSIVE ROX? See? Chuck Jones' mind is slightly dysfunctional!"
My 8 year old said "slightly dysfunctional". And he spelled it right! And he got his apostrophes right on a tricky part. I think maybe he is verbally talented? Why are we wasting time with 4th grade?
Did I just read that?
From this article: http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=11235341
"But if they can't show they've looked for work, then we will cut heir benefits off."
No heir benefits if you don't work. Sorry. But you can have benefits for yourself....
"But if they can't show they've looked for work, then we will cut heir benefits off."
No heir benefits if you don't work. Sorry. But you can have benefits for yourself....
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Did I just read that?
From the NY Times:
"Acorn to Stand Trial in Nevada Case"
What was the crime, failing to grow into an oak?
"Acorn to Stand Trial in Nevada Case"
What was the crime, failing to grow into an oak?
Did I just read that?
"Blog Writers Wanted - Consistent Work - No Experience Necessary in Las Vegas - (Las Vegas) <<creative gigs"
Experience outside Las Vegas, however, is mandatory.
Experience outside Las Vegas, however, is mandatory.
Did I just read that?
from Las Vegas Craigslist:
"Actors audition for new parts - (lv) <<talent gigs"
Clever new way to avoid plastic surgery?
"Actors audition for new parts - (lv) <<talent gigs"
Clever new way to avoid plastic surgery?
This one just got better:
From google news:
Including that picture and the short excerpt just made it all more laughable! We don't eat enough vegetables that look at you? We don't eat enough Veggie Tales Characters? Veggie Tales Characters are being watched by the Center for Disease Control?
Including that picture and the short excerpt just made it all more laughable! We don't eat enough vegetables that look at you? We don't eat enough Veggie Tales Characters? Veggie Tales Characters are being watched by the Center for Disease Control?
Eating in America Still Unhealthy: CDC
U.S. News & World Report - Sep 29, 2009
TUESDAY, Sept. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Most Americans don't eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables, says a US government study released Tuesday.
Control
I have always taken these verses of scripture (from D&C 121) to be a guide to my parenting (sorry for the lengthy quote):
"36 That the arights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be bcontrolled nor handled only upon the cprinciples of righteousness.
"36 That the arights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be bcontrolled nor handled only upon the cprinciples of righteousness.
37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to acover our bsins, or to gratify our cpride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or ddominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens ewithdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the anature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little bauthority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise cunrighteous dominion.
40 Hence many are called, but afew are chosen.
41 No apower or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the bpriesthood, only by cpersuasion, by dlong-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
44 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of adeath.
45 Let thy abowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let bvirtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy cconfidence wax strong in the dpresence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the edews from heaven.
46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant acompanion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of brighteousness and truth; and thy cdominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever."
So when Daniel started a new phase this week, I didn't quite know how to jump. See, he called my bluff. His latest claim is, "You can't control me. You can't control anything."
Each time he said it, part of me wanted to assert my authority as mother. Another part of me heard that verse, quoted above, running through my head, "exercise control or ddominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens ewithdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved;"
Really, he's right. I can't control him. I can't control anything.
And you know what?
I don't even want to.
I've just wondered if he is old enough and mature enough to understand the implications of what he has grasped--that if I don't control him, HE has to; that obeying is not the same as being controlled; that "when we obtain any ablessing from God, it is by bobedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (D&C 130:21).
Can a 4-year-old understand that when NOBODY is in control (including our own selves), chaos and unhappiness ensue? Can he understand that we have rules to benefit us? Can he understand that when I say, "Go potty and get in bed", I'm not trying to control his soul, but merely trying to help the whole family run smoothly for everyone's benefit? Can he understand that Tim and I have always made it a point to allow EVERYTHING in our family to be up for negotiation--but he has to be able to negotiate, not yell and storm out? Can he grasp that teaching isn't the same as controlling? And that it is my responsibility to teach him, and that I have been given specific instructions by God (Mosiah 4) in regards to the stewardship he has granted me over his children (who are also now my children)? Can he see that God also gives us instructions, and we can choose not to follow them, but it doesn't lead to joy and peace in our lives?
I suppose I ought to sit down with him sometime when he hasn't been yelling, "You can't control anything!" and talk to him about it.
I think I also need to deal with the core issues in his life, which seem to be a sense of insecurity (and no wonder, with us unsure of when and where we will land more permanently, waiting for job applications and auditions to settle out one way or the other, and Tim gone on tour!). In fact, he looked at me tonight and said, "You can't control anything. Because Grandma is in charge of you and SHE is the one who can control things." How's that for insecurity--he is trying to sort out the fact that the ultimate authorities in his life actually bow to a greater authority? (How does that work and how does he fit into the new order of things?) Understanding this concept will help him understand a relationship with God, but is a 4 year old mature enough to grasp willingly stepping aside to a greater authority--without losing any of your own? Or that my relationship with his Grandma is founded on respect and love, willing obedience, service (both ways), and honor, not Grandma CONTROLLING everything?
He also came in the other day and said, "I'm smarter than Anda, right Mom?" And I said, "I don't know about that. She's smart and you're smart, but I don't think either of you is smarter." "No," he replied. "I'm smarter." "You are smarter in some things, I'm sure. And she's smarter than you in some things. God made us that way so we would need each other." Anda was standing right there, by the way. Dan looked at me and shook his head. "I'm smarter than Anda, and I'm smarter than you, too," he replied firmly.
See? Plenty of hints that I have a child in crisis. He's reached that age when he is big enough to understand and choose things for himself. He's self-aware. He's starting 1st grade, so he's getting lots of good educational challenges that he's succeeding at (pretty good for a guy who just turned 4!). But there is lots of instability in our lives right now--lots of chaos, lots of people all the time who do things different than I do and are still happy, lots of mommy not running the show....
I think it's time for Mommy to swoop down not with greater bossiness and insistence, not with a good beating and more firmness in the rules, but with lots of hugs, love, listening, talking, hearing what he has to say, good meals, snuggling, praise, attention, and reassurance. And also with a greater measure of good-old-fashioned grown up respect, a little more responsibility, and some added freedom wherever he can get it.
Daniel is in what I call the "verges"--one of those ages where he is in a gap between two worlds--in his case, between toddlerhood and childhood--and those times are hard for kids (others include age 2--between baby and toddler, age 12-13--between child and teenager, etc.). Those are the times when the children are suddenly ready for more freedom, and when parents are caught off guard and don't know if their child is ready. Those are the times of conflict, frustration, fighting, and establishing new patterns of interaction.
In other words, they're times when the kids are ready to grow up.
And we, as parents, have to strike that gentle balance between letting them grow and loving them through it.
Homeschooling Resource Recommendation
Netflix.
It's a great resource for homeschoolers.
How can a movie service be useful for homeschoolers?
Sign up for their basic package (about $10/month), and you get access to hundreds of "Instant play" movies online, including bunches of educational children's programming (LOVE "Cyberchase"--teaches math skills, problem solving, and working together) and tons of documentaries. TONS of them. All that play instantly on your computer or TV (here, the TV is set up as a second screen for the computer, so we play stuff through the computer onto the TV). Also, we can watch a lot of the movies that go with the books we've been reading ("Princess Bride" anyone?), which is both fun and educational, along with classic films.
So now, to supplement our Language Arts, Arts/Music, Science, and Social Studies curricula, we're watching documentaries on mammals, mayan linguistics, history, jazz, etc. Fun fun stuff. I love NOVA, and now we can have it instantly, any time of day or night, to add to what we're learning.
It's a great resource for homeschoolers.
How can a movie service be useful for homeschoolers?
Sign up for their basic package (about $10/month), and you get access to hundreds of "Instant play" movies online, including bunches of educational children's programming (LOVE "Cyberchase"--teaches math skills, problem solving, and working together) and tons of documentaries. TONS of them. All that play instantly on your computer or TV (here, the TV is set up as a second screen for the computer, so we play stuff through the computer onto the TV). Also, we can watch a lot of the movies that go with the books we've been reading ("Princess Bride" anyone?), which is both fun and educational, along with classic films.
So now, to supplement our Language Arts, Arts/Music, Science, and Social Studies curricula, we're watching documentaries on mammals, mayan linguistics, history, jazz, etc. Fun fun stuff. I love NOVA, and now we can have it instantly, any time of day or night, to add to what we're learning.
What Daniel Did in the Lions' Den
After hearing the story of the prophet Daniel in the lion's den, my son Daniel said, "Do you know what I was playing with those lions? Fetch. And Checkers. And then Throw the Imaginary Bad Guy."
Did I just read that?
from craigslist las vegas:
"We are 3 ex-pro players ( Guitarist, Bassist and Drummer) looking for a Vocalist WITH YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT to join us."
And how does a vocalist NOT have their own equipment? Not like they can just put their instrument down and forget it somewhere.
"We are 3 ex-pro players ( Guitarist, Bassist and Drummer) looking for a Vocalist WITH YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT to join us."
And how does a vocalist NOT have their own equipment? Not like they can just put their instrument down and forget it somewhere.
Math Answers, by Caleb
Trying to get Caleb to do math can be tricky. He gets intolerably bored, he says.
So today I guess he tried to spice things up. I found these as answers (all correct, btw) on his assignment when he was finished:
16-8=*
("Doing a code here, mom. Just use shift to figure it out.")
17-9= @77@(|<
("It says 'attack.'")
5-2= #07
("It says 'hot'")
11-7=$30
5-4=yeek! a tower!
4-2=@pp73
("Apple")
8-5= #0r53
9-6=#00#00
So today I guess he tried to spice things up. I found these as answers (all correct, btw) on his assignment when he was finished:
16-8=*
("Doing a code here, mom. Just use shift to figure it out.")
17-9= @77@(|<
("It says 'attack.'")
5-2= #07
("It says 'hot'")
11-7=$30
5-4=yeek! a tower!
4-2=@pp73
("Apple")
8-5= #0r53
9-6=#00#00
d. C's answer
9. $one less than a hundred
14. 9 (hooray for TNR!)
("That's Times New Roman, Mom.")
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Did I just read that?
"Eating in America Still Unhealthy: CDC
U.S. News & World Report - 7 hours ago" (from google news)
What do they want us to do, NOT eat in America?
Monday, September 28, 2009
What's new?
I have been an inconsistent blogger lately.
And now Caleb is hanging around waiting to write on his blog, so this will be just a short update.
We won't have any news about the Sing Off audition/casting process until the show speaks publicly. Even if Tim were to hear, the audition application included a nondisclosure clause, so he can't even say if his groups got cut. So that's a little anxiety-provoking for me. Rumor is that people who get onto the show have to move to LA for a month. If that's the case, it brings up a minefield of issues for me--like what about the other 6 of us? But we won't know until it's yet another rush job. Naturally. I never move easy.
Meanwhile, Tim is leaving on a double tour on Tuesday--off to Vegas, home for literally ONE day, and then off to Colorado and Wyoming with moosebutter. 10 days total, split in the middle. He'll miss our anniversary (which is no big deal--we both missed it last year simply because we both forgot). He'll be home for my birthday.
Then, for the rest of the year, he'll probably be in and out, here one week, gone the next.
So that's us lately.
I'm antsy to start writing. Kids are having a BALL playing in the plowed fields (digging up old toys, dozens of golf balls, miscellaneous broken metal things, rocks, marbles, etc), picking the overabundant produce (plums, peaches, grapes, blackberries, gages....). Loving the fall weather. Glad we're not in Vegas, although that might change when we hit the cold front next week!
And now Caleb is hanging around waiting to write on his blog, so this will be just a short update.
We won't have any news about the Sing Off audition/casting process until the show speaks publicly. Even if Tim were to hear, the audition application included a nondisclosure clause, so he can't even say if his groups got cut. So that's a little anxiety-provoking for me. Rumor is that people who get onto the show have to move to LA for a month. If that's the case, it brings up a minefield of issues for me--like what about the other 6 of us? But we won't know until it's yet another rush job. Naturally. I never move easy.
Meanwhile, Tim is leaving on a double tour on Tuesday--off to Vegas, home for literally ONE day, and then off to Colorado and Wyoming with moosebutter. 10 days total, split in the middle. He'll miss our anniversary (which is no big deal--we both missed it last year simply because we both forgot). He'll be home for my birthday.
Then, for the rest of the year, he'll probably be in and out, here one week, gone the next.
So that's us lately.
I'm antsy to start writing. Kids are having a BALL playing in the plowed fields (digging up old toys, dozens of golf balls, miscellaneous broken metal things, rocks, marbles, etc), picking the overabundant produce (plums, peaches, grapes, blackberries, gages....). Loving the fall weather. Glad we're not in Vegas, although that might change when we hit the cold front next week!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Did I just read that?
from craigslist las vegas:
"MAIL SINGER LOOKING TO FORM COUNTRY MUSIC BAND !!! ....NO FLAKE'S OR DRUNK'S DRINKING OK KNOW YOU'R LIMIT'S "
Is this like a Mail Bride? A Mail Singer? Or does he just sing the stuff the US Post Office brings, country style? And is it okay to have drunks who aren't drinking? And what are all those apostrophes doing hanging out in there? Maybe they were drinking.
"MAIL SINGER LOOKING TO FORM COUNTRY MUSIC BAND !!! ....NO FLAKE'S OR DRUNK'S DRINKING OK KNOW YOU'R LIMIT'S "
Is this like a Mail Bride? A Mail Singer? Or does he just sing the stuff the US Post Office brings, country style? And is it okay to have drunks who aren't drinking? And what are all those apostrophes doing hanging out in there? Maybe they were drinking.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Did I just read that?
From "Ghosts: True Encounters With the World Beyond: Haunted Places, Haunted Houses, Haunted People" (yes, the book has TWO subtitles), a grotesquely oversized book (758 pages, 8x11", all filled in double columns of 11-point type), by Hans Holzer.
On page 169, in the midst of the description of their arrival at a site Holzer claims is Camelot (even though his own medium reported it was a monastery of some kind called "Gwainelod") we get this gem: "There we were, Catherine in a wine red pants suit, the driver somewhere by himself looking down into the village, and Sybil and I trying to tune in the past."
What does a wine red pants suit have to do with anything? And if the driver was "somewhere by himself" then how can he be included in "there we were?" And, for all you grammar geeks out there, that "Sybil and I" in the last part of the sentence is debatable--shouldn't it be "Sybil and me"? (It should run parallel to "There we were, Bob eating ice cream and me eating pickles.")
Then, on page 174, describing a strip-tease joint in London, he says, "It isn't the place to take your maiden aunt, but you can take your wife. The last time I visited..., I was somewhat startled by the completely nude bartenders, female, popping up behind the bar of the upstairs club...." (emphasis in the original).
So THAT'S the kind of place you take your wife? Funny, strip tease clubs are not high on my list of places wives generally like to be taken. In fact, they aren't generally known as a place you take any kind of date. What does he think men are there for--the conversation?
On page 169, in the midst of the description of their arrival at a site Holzer claims is Camelot (even though his own medium reported it was a monastery of some kind called "Gwainelod") we get this gem: "There we were, Catherine in a wine red pants suit, the driver somewhere by himself looking down into the village, and Sybil and I trying to tune in the past."
What does a wine red pants suit have to do with anything? And if the driver was "somewhere by himself" then how can he be included in "there we were?" And, for all you grammar geeks out there, that "Sybil and I" in the last part of the sentence is debatable--shouldn't it be "Sybil and me"? (It should run parallel to "There we were, Bob eating ice cream and me eating pickles.")
Then, on page 174, describing a strip-tease joint in London, he says, "It isn't the place to take your maiden aunt, but you can take your wife. The last time I visited..., I was somewhat startled by the completely nude bartenders, female, popping up behind the bar of the upstairs club...." (emphasis in the original).
So THAT'S the kind of place you take your wife? Funny, strip tease clubs are not high on my list of places wives generally like to be taken. In fact, they aren't generally known as a place you take any kind of date. What does he think men are there for--the conversation?
Friday, September 25, 2009
Did I just read that?
Thursday, September 24, 2009
New Ice Cream Complaint
So I complained a couple months ago about the shrinking ice cream boxes.
Now there's a new ice cream racket.
See, about a year ago this "less than a dollar a box" product appeared in the ice cream section of the store. It was "frozen dairy dessert". Of course, being a cheapskate, I tried it. The kids loved it, and Tim and I thought it was fine. Not so rich as ice cream, but sweet and...fine. And cheap. It came in only the basic chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors. Since the main ingredient was skim milk instead of cream, I assume it was cheaper to produce and (though I never checked) a little higher in sugar to counter for the lower in fat.
So now we have ice cream companies trying to pass it off as ice cream and trying not to tell you they sold you a non-cream product.
For example, Dreyer's Loaded. It's NOT ice cream. It's frozen dairy dessert, with the first listed ingredient in some flavors not even milk--it's whey (a byproduct from the cheese-making process). But it looks like ice cream and the "frozen dairy dessert" label is so small it's almost invisible on the extremely busy ice cream box.
Nutritionally, it's not the same. For example, the Double Fudge Brownie ice cream has 20 carbs, 7g fat, and 3 proteins per half cup. The "Loaded" Double Fudge Brownie Frozen Dairy Dessert has 23 carbs, 5 g fat, and only 2 proteins per half cup. There is the issue of whether skim milk or cream is actually more likely to make you gain weight. (There are studies out there indicating that children who drink whole milk are less likely to gain weight than children who drink skim or 2% milk. Some people think it's because skim milk removes the fat but leaves the milk sugars). And whey is supposed to increase insulin production, so it will hit your body different than cream does. Not to mention the fact that it's "LOADED" with extra carbs to counter the lack of richness from missing the cream.
Of course, this isn't healthy food anyway, so what does it matter?
And it does taste good, although without that rich creaminess that ice cream has.
Just be aware when you set out to buy ice cream--some kinds have more sugar than others, and some kinds have more fat, and some aren't even ice cream. You have to read the box.
Now there's a new ice cream racket.
See, about a year ago this "less than a dollar a box" product appeared in the ice cream section of the store. It was "frozen dairy dessert". Of course, being a cheapskate, I tried it. The kids loved it, and Tim and I thought it was fine. Not so rich as ice cream, but sweet and...fine. And cheap. It came in only the basic chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors. Since the main ingredient was skim milk instead of cream, I assume it was cheaper to produce and (though I never checked) a little higher in sugar to counter for the lower in fat.
So now we have ice cream companies trying to pass it off as ice cream and trying not to tell you they sold you a non-cream product.
For example, Dreyer's Loaded. It's NOT ice cream. It's frozen dairy dessert, with the first listed ingredient in some flavors not even milk--it's whey (a byproduct from the cheese-making process). But it looks like ice cream and the "frozen dairy dessert" label is so small it's almost invisible on the extremely busy ice cream box.
Nutritionally, it's not the same. For example, the Double Fudge Brownie ice cream has 20 carbs, 7g fat, and 3 proteins per half cup. The "Loaded" Double Fudge Brownie Frozen Dairy Dessert has 23 carbs, 5 g fat, and only 2 proteins per half cup. There is the issue of whether skim milk or cream is actually more likely to make you gain weight. (There are studies out there indicating that children who drink whole milk are less likely to gain weight than children who drink skim or 2% milk. Some people think it's because skim milk removes the fat but leaves the milk sugars). And whey is supposed to increase insulin production, so it will hit your body different than cream does. Not to mention the fact that it's "LOADED" with extra carbs to counter the lack of richness from missing the cream.
Of course, this isn't healthy food anyway, so what does it matter?
And it does taste good, although without that rich creaminess that ice cream has.
Just be aware when you set out to buy ice cream--some kinds have more sugar than others, and some kinds have more fat, and some aren't even ice cream. You have to read the box.
Did I just read that?
This is from a really sad story about a toddler who died. The problem?
"It crashed onto the child, killing her. Her 17-year-old parents were performing CPR on her when police arrived.
"It crashed onto the child, killing her. Her 17-year-old parents were performing CPR on her when police arrived.
The fire department took the little girl to a local hospital, where she later died." http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,555161,00.html?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a16:g2:r5:c0.155624:b27939384:z0
She died twice.
Today's Minor Victories
1. Best bubble bath I've ever drawn for the kids. We had no "bubble stuff" so I squirted a couple teaspoons of baby shampoo into the water while it was running. Lots of big, fluffy, long-lasting bubbles. Downside was the same as other bubble bath--how do you rinse it off when it's in the water?
2. Everyone did school today. And when Tim sent me into time out when I got frustrated during a math lesson (kindly), I actually calmed down, thought of a different way to teach it, and jumped back into the fray. Success!
3. Dinner was both made and eaten by 6/7 of the family. Hamburgers go on the "fix it again" list.
4. I reminded myself that something that was hanging over me, causing fear and trepidation, was speculation, not coming at me right away, and not even necessarily going to come at me--and I managed to calm down, cheer up, and forget about it!
5. While I didn't manage to say no, I didn't let a really persuasive saleman get me to say yes, either, despite the fact that I was working in my worst medium--over the phone. I do much better by email or speaking in person. I don't much like talking to machines.
6. I helped harvest peaches and dealt with the ones that were on the edge of spoiling.
7. I made time to "rest" on the hammock with all three little boys--something Benjamin values above almost all else.
8. I walked in a field holding hands with my love and talked with him about what was in my heart--joys and fears.
9. I watched a tractor and plow working with Daniel and we actually spent time observing and discussing it.
10. I made bread.
11. I didn't lose my temper when someone peed on MY bed.
2. Everyone did school today. And when Tim sent me into time out when I got frustrated during a math lesson (kindly), I actually calmed down, thought of a different way to teach it, and jumped back into the fray. Success!
3. Dinner was both made and eaten by 6/7 of the family. Hamburgers go on the "fix it again" list.
4. I reminded myself that something that was hanging over me, causing fear and trepidation, was speculation, not coming at me right away, and not even necessarily going to come at me--and I managed to calm down, cheer up, and forget about it!
5. While I didn't manage to say no, I didn't let a really persuasive saleman get me to say yes, either, despite the fact that I was working in my worst medium--over the phone. I do much better by email or speaking in person. I don't much like talking to machines.
6. I helped harvest peaches and dealt with the ones that were on the edge of spoiling.
7. I made time to "rest" on the hammock with all three little boys--something Benjamin values above almost all else.
8. I walked in a field holding hands with my love and talked with him about what was in my heart--joys and fears.
9. I watched a tractor and plow working with Daniel and we actually spent time observing and discussing it.
10. I made bread.
11. I didn't lose my temper when someone peed on MY bed.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Family Home Evening
Tonight, we threw together another family home evening. Being a kind of loosely-structured, creative family, we don't usually remember to plan FHE in advance, but we usually manage to have it anyway.
Here's how it went:
Well, we started at 2:00 am, interrupting Caleb's math lesson so that we could get to FHE before Tim had to start his evening's work (We're prepping to record no less than a dozen all-vocal albums. No joke. And still digging for gigs, arranging music, and all that other stuff Tim does all the time. Not to mention he picked up 4 more very interesting projects today that we're both intrigued by and excited about.)
First, we had an opening song ("Popcorn Popping") and then an opening song ("ABC") and then started an opening song ("I Am a Child of God").
Then we had the opening prayer.
So far so good.
Then there was some debate about who was going to give the lesson. Daniel wanted to teach a "music lesson" that somehow involved him banging on a little toy piano. Anda wanted everyone to be taught a lesson on how to cut apples into squares. Tim had a stack of church magazines in his lap and an idea for a lesson that was for real. Tim eventually got to start teaching. He gave everyone a magazine and we talked about what kinds of things God wants us to learn about, how we can learn about those things, what prophets do, and where else we can get God's word (like the scriptures!). It was a great lesson, which the kids were thoroughly involved in and I participated in as much as I could, including defining "stretching a dollar", while I dealt with the potatoes that were just done boiling right then.
Then Anda went to grab apples and knives (we talked her out of it), Daniel started banging the piano (we talked him out of it), Benji and Dan begged to taste the potatoes (which they did), and then we settled back down for the closing song and prayer.
Then we had a closing song (I think it was "ABC" again) and another closing song ("We are a Happy Family") and another closing song, all at the top of the kids' lungs, concluding with "Love at Home," Dan's favorite (and also delivered at the loudest volume the kids could muster), and interrupted with a lengthy quote from "Blues Clues" by Benjamin (a good part of it in Benjamese) starting with "A clue! A Clue! I see a clue!" and which he was frustrated I was unable to take the "other part" of--all because he noticed that there was a pawprint on Daniel's Blues Clues shorts. Then Tim took the second part of the Blues Clues dialogue, and sang a bit of the mailbox song from Blues Clues (which sent Benji careening around the house singing the rest and doing the dance while he ran).
When Benji finished, Caleb said a nice closing prayer.
Then everyone kind of drifted away, talking about the "activity" (which we always drift away discussing and never actually have) while I went in to finish dinner.
Thoroughly happy, I wondered aloud to Tim if the person who wrote Love at Home ever had kids. Where are the songs celebrating the joyful, noisy chaos of a family having fun and learning together? Whoever said a happy family consists of peaceful, quiet, churchlike atmosphere must have abused their children because healthy, happy kids aren't like that! And I don't think they should be.
I love having a big family!
I realize most families plan a little better, have FHE charts to make sure everyone gets turns to do something each week (instead of doing it like we do, where everyone gets turns to do all of whatever they like each week), do an organized activity, have a snack, have a reverent and quiet lesson. I kinda suspect most families don't sing "Twinkle Star" multiple times for both songs every week for two years.
I don't regret the way we do it, though. Our kids love family home evening. It works for our family, in all its chaotic, unplanned, by-the-seat-of-our-pants, noisy "structure". It's fun. When we forget, the kids literally pray that Mom and Dad won't forget family home evening next week. Nobody complains when we call it's time for FHE. It's short. It's fun. We learn a lot and laugh a lot and love a lot.
And isn't that what it's about?
Here's how it went:
Well, we started at 2:00 am, interrupting Caleb's math lesson so that we could get to FHE before Tim had to start his evening's work (We're prepping to record no less than a dozen all-vocal albums. No joke. And still digging for gigs, arranging music, and all that other stuff Tim does all the time. Not to mention he picked up 4 more very interesting projects today that we're both intrigued by and excited about.)
First, we had an opening song ("Popcorn Popping") and then an opening song ("ABC") and then started an opening song ("I Am a Child of God").
Then we had the opening prayer.
So far so good.
Then there was some debate about who was going to give the lesson. Daniel wanted to teach a "music lesson" that somehow involved him banging on a little toy piano. Anda wanted everyone to be taught a lesson on how to cut apples into squares. Tim had a stack of church magazines in his lap and an idea for a lesson that was for real. Tim eventually got to start teaching. He gave everyone a magazine and we talked about what kinds of things God wants us to learn about, how we can learn about those things, what prophets do, and where else we can get God's word (like the scriptures!). It was a great lesson, which the kids were thoroughly involved in and I participated in as much as I could, including defining "stretching a dollar", while I dealt with the potatoes that were just done boiling right then.
Then Anda went to grab apples and knives (we talked her out of it), Daniel started banging the piano (we talked him out of it), Benji and Dan begged to taste the potatoes (which they did), and then we settled back down for the closing song and prayer.
Then we had a closing song (I think it was "ABC" again) and another closing song ("We are a Happy Family") and another closing song, all at the top of the kids' lungs, concluding with "Love at Home," Dan's favorite (and also delivered at the loudest volume the kids could muster), and interrupted with a lengthy quote from "Blues Clues" by Benjamin (a good part of it in Benjamese) starting with "A clue! A Clue! I see a clue!" and which he was frustrated I was unable to take the "other part" of--all because he noticed that there was a pawprint on Daniel's Blues Clues shorts. Then Tim took the second part of the Blues Clues dialogue, and sang a bit of the mailbox song from Blues Clues (which sent Benji careening around the house singing the rest and doing the dance while he ran).
When Benji finished, Caleb said a nice closing prayer.
Then everyone kind of drifted away, talking about the "activity" (which we always drift away discussing and never actually have) while I went in to finish dinner.
Thoroughly happy, I wondered aloud to Tim if the person who wrote Love at Home ever had kids. Where are the songs celebrating the joyful, noisy chaos of a family having fun and learning together? Whoever said a happy family consists of peaceful, quiet, churchlike atmosphere must have abused their children because healthy, happy kids aren't like that! And I don't think they should be.
I love having a big family!
I realize most families plan a little better, have FHE charts to make sure everyone gets turns to do something each week (instead of doing it like we do, where everyone gets turns to do all of whatever they like each week), do an organized activity, have a snack, have a reverent and quiet lesson. I kinda suspect most families don't sing "Twinkle Star" multiple times for both songs every week for two years.
I don't regret the way we do it, though. Our kids love family home evening. It works for our family, in all its chaotic, unplanned, by-the-seat-of-our-pants, noisy "structure". It's fun. When we forget, the kids literally pray that Mom and Dad won't forget family home evening next week. Nobody complains when we call it's time for FHE. It's short. It's fun. We learn a lot and laugh a lot and love a lot.
And isn't that what it's about?
Did I just read that?
This isn't error-laden, it's just plain funny. Best ad I've ever seen on Craigslist:
"
Date: 2009-09-21, 9:17PM MDT
Reply to: gigs-6bgdk-1386224167@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
"
Looking for college drop-out polynesians, 20s, preferably named david. (west jordan)
Date: 2009-09-21, 9:17PM MDT
Reply to: gigs-6bgdk-1386224167@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
Seeking sassy side kick that will be a good spring-board for my jokes. Must have interest in Classic cars and Mens health magazines. Love of board games a plus.
Serious inquiries only.
PostingID: 1386224167"
Serious inquiries only.
- Location: west jordan
- it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
- Compensation: no pay
Did I just read that?
I don't think this means what the company posting the ad on craigslist thought it meant:
"Autistic Tutor Needed - (Utah County)"
"Autistic Tutor Needed - (Utah County)"
Sunday, September 20, 2009
I think this is awesome
As long as google is sticking to public domain works, I think this "print a book" plan is a great service.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/18/google.books/index.html
Just as long as they stick to PUBLIC DOMAIN works.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/18/google.books/index.html
Just as long as they stick to PUBLIC DOMAIN works.
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