• Dec. 24, 2009 - Random observation to break the empty monotony of this blog:
Today I decided that Americans do drive on the right side of the road after all.
This is totally very momentous, so I must explain. It’s a long story, and there are several Very Important facts you must study first so as to fully understand.
VERY IMPORTANT FACTS:
1. I’ve always known that Americans drive on the wrong side of the road. I know, it’s the ‘right’ side (don’t you get my pun ha ha aren’t I clever?), but we’re on the right side of our cars, so that’s no excuse. The fact is… well, there never actually were many facts to support me. It was just a vague patriotism, I guess.
Actually, the real reason is that pretty much every part of the driving experience in America totally sucks, so it’s a pretty safe bet that they got the side of the road wrong as well.
2. It has been a very hot day today.
3. I have been working very hard today. From four to five (AM to PM, that is) in a stifling supermarket with so many customers everywhere that it’s not funny. EVERYONE seems to go to the supermarket on Christmas eve! And why? WHY? I have no idea, but they all want a lot of bread. They’re probably planning something illegal.
END OF VERY IMPORTANT FACTS.
So. I was driving home from the supermarket at 5 after a really, really long day, and I was in my own cute car with my radio up and the windows all down and the breeze (ok, gale – it gets like that at 100k in a Very Small Car) so cool and refreshing and hair-blowing. And I was dangling my hand out the window and shaping it like an aeroplane wing so it would glide through the air (that’s the theory anyway) and all the other things you do to make yourself feel cool, and then it hit me.
You guys can dangle your left hands out the window when you’re driving.
I know, that sounds like a really little thing, but actually it’s enormous. I mean, it’s impossible not to dangle your hand out the window when you drive with the window down – that’s a totally undisputed fact. And if you’re concentrating on trying to make an aeroplane wing with your arm out the window so you have to drive with your left hand, and if you happen to be right-handed… well, it’s difficult. And if you happen to miss roadwork signs because you’re so busy concentrating and hit a rough gravel corner at 100k then it gets very difficult.
So that’s basically my amazing discovery.
The only question I have left is this: Are Americans all left-handed? Because although it’s possible that you guys actually changed something for the better, its probably more likely that you’re a totally left-handed race and it all makes no sense after all |
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• Dec. 24, 2009 - No Homeschooling, No Christmas for the Johansson Family
Posted By Gena Suarez, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
As you celebrate Christmas this year, please remember all the parents who are still fighting for their right to homeschool, and for parents who have had their children taken from them by force without just cause because they homeschooled their children--like the Johansson family of Sweden. This Christmas we can rest easy knowing that the gifts that we bought for our children will help further their education or offer a new way for your family to have fun together. The Johanssons have been denied Christmas with their only child, and so much more.
Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB |
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• Dec. 24, 2009 - Communication Corner ~ Last Few Days of my Video Countdown to Christmas!
I've done this each year for a few years now. These are the final days of my Video Countdown to Christmas that started on December 15th. Each day I'm uploading an inspirational or comedic video that shares the spirit of Christmas with my readers. Check it out on Communication FUNdamentals!
And Merry CHRISTmas everyone! |
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• Dec. 24, 2009 - MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE~~
Hallo Everypeoples!
I cannot stay long but I just wanted to with you all a Merry Christmas! Tomorrow is my blogoversary but I probably will not be on much if any, so I just wanted to leave a small note for you all.
Merry Christmas.
Eat lots of good food.
Never forget the meaning of Christmas.
Without Jesus, everything is meaningless.
Trust me. Trust Him.
May God bless you overflowing.
Ever His,
Zel
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• Dec. 23, 2009 - Homeschooling Through High School ~ Merry Christmas!
 Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
I want to share a couple of video clips which I located on YouTube...they are from a Public Television show that I have seen many Decembers over, titled, "Rick Steve's Christmas in Europe." These two clips share my favorite parts of the show. I love the peacefulness, the simplicity, and the picture of the family generations coming together. I hope you enjoy it, too!
Rick Steve's Christmas in Europe ~ Part 9
Rick Steve's Christmas in Europe ~ Part 10
May God bless you and your families as you focus on the beauty of God's plan for His children, and all that "Emmanuel" means to you.
~Lori
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• Dec. 22, 2009 - Movie Review: Little Dorrit
Here is a movie review on the 2008 version of Little Dorrit, based on the Charles Dickens novel.
The Characters
Amy Dorrit
Arthur Clennam
William Dorrit
Mrs. Clennam
Rigaud/Blandois
Mr. Meagles
Mrs. Meagles
Pet Meagles
John Chivery
Mr. Chivery
Fanny Dorrit
Edward "Tip" Dorrit
Fredrick Dorrit
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Flora Finchling
Mr. Merdle
Mrs. Merdle
Edmund Sparkler
Mr. Pancks
Tattycoram
Affery Flintwinch
Jeremiah Flintwinch
Henry Gowan
Miss Wade
Mrs. General
Maggy
What's it About?
This movie is about a young woman named Amy Dorrit, who was born in the Marshalsea Prison for debt. She meets a man named Arthur Clennam, who's mother is keeping a secret that involves both Arthur and Amy.
Positive
~Because it is a Dickens novel, the characters and plots are so complex and intertwined. It keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
Negative
~There is one part in Episode 2 that absolutely should be skipped, a (what we call it in our famliy) "boy-girl" part.
~There are a few deaths that are rather gruesome that I would suggest that parents look at if you have children 12 and younger or ones that are sensitive to that sort of thing.
~Very very very mild language
I very highly suggest this movie, it is so suspenceful and exciting, you won't want to look away!
God Bless You,
Taylor |
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• Dec. 21, 2009 - Please listen...wonderful song...
• Dec. 20, 2009 - He says he wants to KNOW.
Posted By Taylor
| Dies ist Hailey! C strings on violas are kewlness. Arthur is Arthur!! ! I don't like "the twelve days of Christmas". Taylee's List goes like this
1. Adam
2. Arthur
3. Alex
4. Woody
5. Sam
6. Mr. Darcy
Poor Alex was in second place for just one night, but then we finished Widdle Dorrit and then Arthur took his place, poor guy!! Taylee just said "oooooh ARTHUR......" and "swooned". I think she loves him more than Adam, but she says it's not true. POOR JOHN!! AMY BROKE HIS WIDDLE HEART BUT SHE DIDN'T MEAN TO!!!
Cashews taste good. REAL GOOD. :-) Oranges taste better. The Boogy man in nightmare before Christmas is FREAKY. 0_________0
I don't know where Lichtenstein is. It's in Europe somewhere unless it's in Asia, which it's not. I'm an electrician from Cahson Citi. I 'lectrcute houses. There ain't no hosses in Cahson Citi. They're all up in..... Lake Tahoe New Yowk. JUST SETTLE DOWN. DON'T SHOOT I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS! We were Joe. Bang. I AIN'T GOIN. My cowboy hat is kewl and I turn it to a..... TRIANGLE at the end...... LIKE A CUTE WIDDLE TRIANGLE TURNED UP NOSE! Garden hoses are random. Really random. Like the most random thing in the world probably. Alex sings coolness. Not the Alex on the list, the other one. The one on the list don't sing. :-) His brother does, his youngest brother. But not like Alex does. ;-) Alex's brothers don't sing, though. Only when forced to, which is um yesh. GRIIIIIIM REALITY BROTHERS, GRRRRRRRIM REALITY!!!!!!!! You sang good! No I didn't!
I run into misfortunes with naming my characters in stories. Um, but I can't tell y'all why cos it has to stay *quiet* cos they (not the characters, real peoples) don't want the whole world to KNOW WAHAHAHA. My name is Ricky Telephone. You should meet my daughter, Elijah Berryhound. ELIJAH!!!!!!!!! I love warm, soft Bettys. They are warm and soft. Well they are! Vita. meata. vegamin. That's Vita. meata. vegamin. ;-D Um, it's scary to be in trouble with someone who you think you're in trouble with, but then you're not, and it's okay, but still scary cos it was SCAAARY!!!!!!!!! I am not Mr. Pancks. Or Mr. Casby. Ho hohohhohoho. I cut thy beard. |
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• Dec. 19, 2009 - "What's worth the price is always worth the fight."
Posted By Pip
Someone should write a book of prompts for blogposts. I literally sat here for five minutes without rational musings or logical bits of brilliance leaping to my fingers. *wild laughter* I've read way too many blogs with dull openings; the first sentence should create an impression that represents the post as a whole. But enough of this blah. Due to the disgracefully un-recent date to the last ramble on here, I have decided to once again haunt the cyber public. *shoves on nerdy glasses and gives her Reader a toothpaste commercial smile with sparkles and a blast of classical music*
The past two weeks have been a whirl of activity; the Jack Tale Players have had multiple performances which all require rehearsals and lengthy trips in a very old van. The director has also been running several performances of his Christmas play and I was one of the volunteers he had serving in the 'dinner' section of the dinner theatre. I've never tried my hand at waitressing, so it was a bit WOOOOOoooh at first but I warmed up to dashing back and forth with coffee and iced tea pitchers. Both Camirryn and Dadsy were waiters at one time, so I got some pointers in that regard. December has also brought me a singularly thrilling/terrifying experience: movie audition. *watches the Reader fall over dead* Paramount is remaking 'True Grit', an old John Wayne western, and they were having an open casting call for the state I live in. I prayed about it and my parents and I eventually came to the same conclusion that hey, I might as well. So Dadsy drove me up to the theatre they were holding the audition at and we stood in line for, I kid you not, three hours. Two cups of coffee were consumed in those three hours spent hopping around to ward off the cutting winds, not to mention an actual alley stretching out from our slow-moving meander to the glass double doors and a ton of normal girls who could honestly care less whether they made a professional impression (which they didn't to us, the ever-innocent bystanders). They had me fill out a form, rant at a casting director about who I was and why they should consider me (the rant lasting for a grand total of thirty seconds), and then we struck off on the long, snowy road back home. Drive for three hours, stand in line for three hours, talk for thirty seconds, drive for three hours. It was an eventful day. But I had a blast, despite unexplainable breathlessness and shaky legs as we walked out of the theatre, my eyes still scorched from the casting director's stony glare. *grins* I'm glad I was able to try out; I can technically claim to have auditioned for the lead role in a Hollywood movie.
I was asked by Momsie last week about the topic of a persuasion paper that would address one of the cultural issues I found lacking in justice. Years of observation has shown me an extremely troubling truth, one of those nasty little details that modern culture strives to cover with weak arguments which, shockingly enough, had been embraced by the crushing majority. Call me dramatic but this is one of those things which lurks behind prejudice! I'm speaking of the immediate assumption people make that homeschoolers are stupid. Count yourself fortunate if you've never had this blatantcy tossed in your face. I once heard these obstacle aptly described as a cross to be borne. One doesn't think about preconceived notions against the value of home educating when they think of persecution, but think about it: Johnny is educated outside of the government-financed school systems, he's not accepting the generous educational standards offered by the public school systems, thereby obviously not getting the correct or sufficient education he requires/deserves/shouldhavehad, so Johnny is stupid. Nice logic, huh? Not. I'm not out to flame public school systems, only state my opinion because I believe it should be addressed. If I were to write a persuasion paper, this would probably be the topic because no good argument can thrive without passionate belief in your viewpoint. Personally, I think that unless circumstances are such that the parents cannot educate their own child, communication between family members and the standard of education would be higher if Johnny was taught by his own parents, learning their world views and building his own based on the biblical values so savagely discarded from mainstream education. We lose ourselves to the constant stream of what beneficial citizens should behave like and discover that home educating is generally discouraged. Because of course, Johnny would learn better in a big classroom surrounded by detached peers, taught by an impartial teacher with an 'approved' curriculum (approved by whom, I might add? Is it possible that these teachers and the writers of their textbooks have world views which might conflict with the world view Johnny's parents wish to install within his heart and mind?), drenched in the cultural norm day after day instead of staying home and developing good character and a strong relationship with his family. I've noticed that when a homeschooler makes some sort of mistake, blame automatically falls on his parents for having raised him in such a fashion, or on the fact that he was homeschooled. And then when a public schooled or culturally accepted person messes something up, people are quick to make excuses because he was shoved into the ever-encompassing Flow. I thought the world owes us nothing. Apparently conformity is owed much! Why is it that those who set their gaze on heaven, rather than earth, are the ones to whom nothing is owed? Homeschoolers aren't robots without emotions, that the norm may slap a label bearing 'STOOPID' on and then throw away for useless. This rant shall now be ended. On a fringe note for this segment, I'd love to hear your opinion on this. The Hideaway has been very silent lately; what are your thoughts? Is there such a thing as an ideal mind, a cerebral level that a 'beneficial citizen' might chase after? If so, is it reached by public school systems, personal soul-searching, homeschooling or something else? Feel free to bash anything I've said. Opposition builds determination, does it not?
Our plans to go Christmas shopping were dramatically altered when it began snowing early this afternoon...and never stopped. The flakes are coming down in lashing sheets! In the almost-four years we've lived in this house, we've never had so much fluffy, milky, beautiful snow! The Girls and I were thrilled, running from one window to another and squeaking with delight at how much the drifts had grown since our last window-check. Falling snow is insanely inspiring. Which is a good thing, because my writing has recently dragged me through a laundry wringer, then chained me to a persnickety computer and shoved a leaky pen into my weary fingers. Exaggeration? I think not. I get into these weird moods where I doubt I'm even qualified to call myself a writer, and begin begging God to either blast me away with mad inspiration or distract me so I will quit worrying. I seriously can't imagine NOT writing, seeing as how when I don't write much of anything for a single day (*gasp*), I get all scared that maybe the words will one day just dry up and my fingers will curl idly around the handle of my cup brimming with tepid tea. Lately my writing has really suffered, whether from lack of time/inspiration, or from sheer exhaustion in trying to glean words from a scene where nothing.is.happening. This book is...a tad slow. So I threw in a rather violent curve of plot, which seemed to help. I am back on track and happily banging away the hours, loosely following my outline (*frowns at the wild laughter from her Reader and ahems*) towards a twelve-year-skip-ahead. My satisfaction is fragile when it comes to this particular book; it's given me way too much trouble sofar for me to say I'm now on safe ground.
This wraps up my month-spanning summary. I could bore you with piddling details, such as the fact that I now own an actual black cloak (*pleased smirk*) that I'm soon going to freak Wal-Mart employees out with, or the fact that I've already done a year's schoolwork, or the pros and cons of being iced in for a couple days so that we find it necessary to walk down our very long driveway to the mailbox (pro being the beautiful scenery and a nice sister-sister talk with Katsy, con being there was no mail on account of the crazy amount of snow we got this afternoon)...but what is imagination for? I hope your own life is going as colorfully.
Merry CHRISTmas! |
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• Dec. 18, 2009 - Featured Blogger ~ TOSAffiliatesCorner
How many of you are TOS Affiliates? Ever think about becoming one? I'm sure you have a lot of questions about it. Let's find out with this week's Featured Blogger the TOS Affiliates Corner!
How do you become a TOS affiliate? Find the answer on the first blog post, Welcome to the TOS Affiliate Blog!
If you become an affiliate, what kinds of ads have to go on your blog? Check out the latest TOS promotion for When I Grow Up I Wanna Be A Police Officer.
As a TOS affiliate you won't always be asking your readers to buy something. TOS loves go give away freebies! While you don't make any money off of these promotions being able to tell your readers about free gifts is always a bonus!
So if you aren't a TOS affiliate yet, what are you waiting for? Christmas break is a great time to get started because in 2010 TOS has a lot of great products coming out!
Say hi to Cheryl, the TOS affiliate coordinator and if you have any questions you can ask her in a comment.
Would you like to nominate a HSB blogger for Featured Blogger of the Week? Email me at tlinschied@thehomeschoolmagazine.com. Please keep in mind that Featured Bloggers must be at least 18 years of age and their blog must be encouraging, uplifting, and/or inspiring.
Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB |
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