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(This is also Posted on my 2 other blogs, Since I'm that lazy, so some of this may not make sense......)

Phew uh AAAAAAUAUUUggggggghhhhhhhhh! YIKES .ummm.......yeah. I know this is Kind of Random, but I'm feeling a little like Mrs. Weimeyer (our club leader/teacher/mascot...), and I needed to scream. The long and short of it is...I Qualified......








Yeah, it is about as random a joke my mom could make, as I didn't realize it until after a minute she told me. Sorry If I'm not coherent...I can't even think straight, let alone blog. basically she thought she'd play a joke at dinner and we started thinking of movi lines from the alamo (2004). I have no idea why. It's incredably unlike her. We named some lines, when she said "I liked some of those Davy crockett lines." What????? He has some of the worst! We listed some of his, when she prodded further, asking "What was that line, 'you can go to hell...'?" If you'd heard it, it'd be near impossible not to know. We had joked about it in relation to nats, since they are in Texas. I recited "you can all go to hell, I'm going to texas" which he had actually said in tennesee, not AT the Alamo. My mom said, "wait, wasn't it something else, say it again..." My dad prodded for my repeat of the line, also...Then just the first part. My mom added "and we are..you qualified." There was a moment of stunned silence. Jonah stopped eating.....Madiline stopped struggling with her Enchilada. They all looked at Mom. Except for Jonah, who then took another bite of guacamole. After much questioning, I found out that it was no joke, someone unfortunately couldn't come, and I was next in line. I was greatly dissapointed earlier, to not be able to see those of you who qualified at nats. It'd be great if all Touche could go, but then we'd need more slots. Though If I could chose I'd say many more did much better than me, I just happened to be in the right catagory. I had put NCFCA out of my mind, but it hadn't had enough of me. I am indeed, though last to qualify, going to Texas.

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Well, I got a new blog  for all my political stuff, since here everyone agrees and I'm basically preaching to the choir. I am known as Debater there-<http://thomaspaine-debater.blogspot.com/index.html> Not to worry, however, I will continue blogging here, but mostly on day to day random stuff, history, etc...

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OK...I've been gone for a while and am thying to do some new stuff with my blog, so let's get started.

• First off, as you can see, I'm changing my blog template alot. I've added all those cool little things on the side and then I thought I'd do something more sueful than a buch of little pictures. Soooo...I've been trying to add and change stuff on the template. I am currently trying to add the catagories on the side, like a table of contents. If anyone knows how to do that, that'd be great
• Also, as I was looking at my catagories, I thought about what I have posted. I really haven't posted too much. Especially the things I said I like. I like reptiles, but haven't posted a thing on them yet. I'd like to post more on politics, so I figure I will. And in general, have noticed how dry this blog is. See, I'd like to try and keep it all serious with the politics and such, but I'd love to post more on Random stuff and also, have I mentioned I like Lord of the Rings?.... Well I'd like to post on that, too.
• So what's the point of all this rambling? 1) Nothing...You read this for nothing...2) I have come to the conclusion I need a new blog. so yeah, all that for... well, yeah, that was a waste of time. OK, I'll stop and get to blogging

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Okay, I KNOW I spelt that wrong, but this whole Christmas season, Jonah (my brother) has been reminding me of the german victories in the Antwerp campaign, Commonly known as the Battle of the bulge. As you can see by these pictures, we've turned our Christmas village into a battle scene

       Well enough with the pics for now, But maybe a few more later. Now it may sound like I'm jumping ahead to quick,ly, as I'm still writing the Marathon series, But I wanted to write about the battle of the bulge while it is still that time of year. Well as that it is Christmas eve, I will end the preview and ge to Chistmas

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Last trivia's question: The battle of Marathon took place on september 17th, What other battle took place on this date?

Answer to trivia: 1862, The battle of Antietam, American civil war. This union victory was fought in Maryland, one of the largest Battles in the war, and the bloodiest day in the war.

Part II- the Deployment

Now who were these Athenians to stand up to Persia? That was what angered Darius, and that was the audacity of Greece. That was the type of people they were. Later on, when it was Darius’ son, Xerxes, who was attacking, he threatened the defending Spartans saying that when the bows of Persia were so many that they would block out the sun when they fired. The Spartans weren’t afraid, though. They taunted back”That is good, for we shall fight in the shade!”  The Greeks were audacious, yes, maybe even arrogant, but they were not intimidated into submission, which scared Darius the most. The Persians usually requested ‘earth and water’ to represent submission. As of late, the Greeks had been answering this by beheading the rider and sending him back. Greece was determined not to give up.

            This didn’t mean the Greeks would win. On the contrary, they had a large disadvantage. Greece had no bowmen or cavalry, two areas where Persia was strong. They sent for aid from neighboring city states, but only 100 Plaeteans arrived Also, while the normal Greek front was 8 men deep, Persia’s was 30. With the Greek front 8,000 men long, their normal formation would only be 1250 meters. Very small compared to the 48,000 men of Persia covering 1,600 meters. The only thing that could save them was a good general.

            The Athenians were peculiar when it came to there command. They had this system that was ‘general for a day’ It probably wasn’t called that, but general for a day it was. 10 appointed generals would take turns every day being the army’s commander. This really made no sense, as no one could carry on a whole campaign. There, at the plain of Marathon, That all changed.

            One of the generals, called Militades, convinced his fellow generals that he should command the battle. THis was a revolutionary change, that brought many other revolutionary changes to the whole Athenian army. The formost being deployment. As custom of military Tactics was at the time, you put your strongest troops in the center. After all, If your center breaks, You are doomed. Militides changed that. He decided to  ut his best troops n the flanks while the weaker troops would face the Persian elite- The Imortals.

          While this was a great risk for Militades, It would pay of if his plan was executed correctly. While he waited for the Persians, he formed the rest of his plan. Meanwhile, he sent a courier to the Spartans, a courier to the Plaeteans and a courier, whose name was Philipedesa, to Athens. We will see the importance of the other two later, but now for the Plaeteans.

        The Plaeteans accepted the invatation to defend Greece, But no word came from Sparta. MIlitedes put the Plaeteans in the center reserve. Why does this matter? Well as we will learn later, mercinaries arn't to be trusted. They won't nescesarilly turn on you, but they won't fight as hard. From Washington defeating the hessian mercenaries to the betrayal of Numidian mecanarys in Egypt, History shows they aren't quite as good. We will see how this plays out in more than one way. Thus they are the weaker troops that militedes would put in the center.

         Now to the matter of size- Militedes had to match the whole line of Persians, which far extended his. To solve this, he took another risk, and extended his line by thinning it out. He streangtened the flanks, but spread out the center.

         With the Plateans in the center and the Phalanx elite on the flanks, all was ready. They faced the massive Persian army. Elite calvary on the far flanks, then mercenaries and the elite Imortals in the center, with the deadly archers in rear.  Militades took the customary right flank to go into battle.

Stay tuned for the next part in the series- As they met on the field

Trivia: What famous Athenian died for "A hill of beans"? 

BONUS trivia: what is the title of this article quoted from? ( It's my favorite movie & book)

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-Homines libenter id quod volunt credunt

-Men easily belive what they want to

  I don't know if I should continue my Marathon series. If anyone is waiting for it, Please speak up. But I don't want to prematurely give the answer to the trivia. If no one is waiting to hear, I might as well wait for some answers to the trivia. Your comments are VERY much aprecciated. Thanks

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   Sorry that I haven't blogged for a while, If anyone has been keeping up. I haven't even been around. On June 22, I went on a 5 day backpacking trip at Lassen Ntl' park. Just about the ugliest national park I'd ever seen. It's volcanic. Everything's dead. I guess I'll write about that some other time. After I got back, i stayed home for about a week until it was down to my graduation and the beach for about a week. at Corona del Mar. After that week, I got to attend CHEA ( California's homeschooler's convention) for my first time- Amazing. ( I will write more on that too) But I have to say, After a weekend with all these homeschooling mothers, It way pretty refreshing to go off to Boy Scout camp with guys for a week. Not to offend any of you women, but I started getting scared when I wanted to go shopping for more curriculum. And I know most off you are mothers of their daughters. Boy Scout camp was fun, But by the time I got back, ( a little more than a week ago, I think... I've REALLY lost track of time.) I was, and still am, exauhsted. On tp of it, my mom puts on VBS, and we're scrambling to get that done. Thats a PACKED summer. Looking back, I've only been here 3 weeks max. since I left for Lassen. I am wiped out. That's Probably on acount that I swam I mile 2 days ago and am still swimming in the sweltering heat in my spare time. I can't seem to quit, The summer's gone too fast. And now I have to catch up blogging on top of it....Not that I don't like blogging....The strange thingis any other spare time, I'm lying around being lazy.. Typical in this heat.. That's all I Can think of for now.

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Male secum aegit aeger, medicum qui heredem facit.

(Latin) -Syrus, Maxims

: The sick man does himself no favor when he makes the doctor his heir.

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  One year ago, one of the greatest Presidents our country has seen, passed away. I have compiled some of his wittiest, funniest, truest, and all around greatest quotes President Reagan has uttered. There are so many, I’ll have to type a second article. God truly has blessed the USA with people like him.

I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if I'm in a cabinet meeting.
Ronald Reagan

I have wondered at times what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the US Congress.
Ronald Reagan

I know I'm not in government anymore. In fact I'm out of work.
Ronald Reagan How can a president not be an actor?

How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin.
Ronald Reagan

I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself.
Ronald Reagan
Going to college offered me the chance to play football for four more years.
Ronald Reagan

Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets.
Ronald Reagan

Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.
Ronald Reagan

Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.
Ronald Reagan

Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.
Ronald Reagan

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Ronald Reagan

Governments tend not to solve problems, only to rearrange them.
Ronald Reagan

Facts are stubborn things.
Ronald Reagan

Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement.
Ronald Reagan

But there are advantages to being elected President. The day after I was elected, I had my high school grades classified Top Secret.
Ronald Reagan
I never drink coffee at lunch. I find it keeps me awake for the afternoon.
Ronald Reagan

 It's silly talking about how many years we will have to spend in the jungles of Vietnam when we could pave the whole country and put parking stripes on it and still be home by Christmas.
Ronald Reagan

My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you I just signed legislation which outlaws Russia forever. The bombing begins in five minutes.
Ronald Reagan

Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.
Ronald Reagan

 Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.
Ronald Reagan

 Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15.
Ronald Reagan

 The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.
Ronald Reagan

 The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much.
Ronald Reagan

The taxpayer - that's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination.
Ronald Reagan

 Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.
Ronald Reagan

 You can tell alot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans.
Ronald Reagan

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To whoever posted the coment on my article on Marathon, I include the answer to the trivia with the next part of the article. Feel free to ask of anything ele that confuses you, I'm more than happy to clarify.                   

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We’ve used DWHA! (Diana Waring -History Alive!) for all of our ancient history this year, and the second week of each unit, we write or present a report. I thought the battle of Marathon was fascinating when we studied the Persian-Greek wars. I just did a pretty neat report on the battle of Marathon, and I thought I’d share it. I’ve divided it in several parts with trivia in between. So here goes-

            Part one- If you’ve ever lit a firecracker, you know what a pack these small capsules can pack a punch. One small little firecracker will spew sparks everywhere. In the year 490, B.C., as Emperor Darius of Persia was conquering the last known corners of the world, the small city states of Greece blew up in his face in a battle that would shatter sparks through history forever.

            This all started when the Babylonian empire fell and was picked up by the Median/Persian conquerors. Media slowly died out and the reigns were left to Persia. Then comes along Darius, who decides to conquer the world. He has all of Mesopotamia, and extends to Europe, planning to quickly stamp out the rabble of unorganized city states. He is infuriated, however, to find that the Greeks (Then known as Hellenes) were more impudent than he thought. The Ionians revolted along with others who posed a threat to Darius’ ever growing empire. Then Darius decides that was enough- he would send a full fledged invasion into the city states of Greece. He landed an invasion force to March on Athens. Somehow the Athenians got wind of it, and they met on the Plain of Marathon. “Stay Tuned” for the next part in a series-  Marathon

Trivia: The battle of Marathon was fought on September 17th. What other famous battle was fought on this date?

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    Undoubtedly you know about the boycott today. Across the nation illegal aliens are parading the streets, boycotting all things American. I'll take that back, not only are illeagals boycotting, but fellow Americans- liberals- are boycotting, too. What has gotten into this country? Does no one understand what the word ILLEAGAL means? This whole issue of illegal immigration just drives me insane; Mexicans sneaking across our southern border, infiltrating the country and demanding we change our society to appeal to them! Illegal immigration is accepted as a regular thing. Practically half of CA (where I live) is now speaking Spanish! There are even schools now that teach Spanish before English, leaving the kids not knowing how to speak the language of the country that they were born in! But that's no matter because you don't need to know English if you know Spanish because everything here is translated into Spanish! I don't know about you, wherever you live, but California is almost Mexifornia now! It's ridiculous!! 

 

     My grandparents and their parents were immigrants, and they waited their turn and did all they had to become part of our country. I completely respect people like that. But now all those waiting to become part of America have to wait longer because the aliens are taking their places. I am perfectly fine with legal immigrants, America is the melting pot; meaning everyone chip in, but melt and become American and give up your past nationality. Whatever happened to "Proud to be American?"  Now liberal Americans forsake their own country and even seek to deface it. You can't even call them Americans the way they support the downfall of America.

 

     Whatever happened to days like the 40's when morale was high and everyone had a zeal for our nation. If you compare the success of the economy and the nation in general in days when America was greatly supported to that of now, you see why we have problems like this. But liberal America has got us in all this mess; they couldn't recognize what the word illegal means. In the papers, and elsewhere, it is even said that "we should see what we can do to honor these people" Not only are they committing the crime of coming here illegally, their coming out in the streets and saying they're proud of it. And we let them go? That's like saying, for example: -Shoplifting should be made legal. Plenty of people do it. It happens all the time. You should give amnesty to all shoplifters.  You'll never track them all down. In fact, don't even call it stealing, or shoplifting for that matter, it's acquiring. Shoplifting is an unkind word, let alone stealing. They just never knew any better. They need help and no one gives it so they acquire things from the store without payment. In fact, we should help them out and give them welfare because they are so bad off. We should boycott all shopkeepers' stores that don't allow shoplifting. - See how stupid that sounds? Why would anyone want shoplifting made legal, it's the same with illegal immigrants. Yet they still walk out and proclaim they're proud of it. They're proud to break the law.

 

     Now across the nation, Mexicans and liberals are parading the streets, boycotting American products and not going to work. They get off free not only for being here illegally, but not coming to work. No, not many were, are or will be fired, it's accepted. Children are even encouraged to join their walk out, skipping school. This week is star testing, and though these students should be tested, schools are taking the courtesy of supporting something illegal by postponing the test, leaving no consequences to the children, taking their chance to skip school!

 

   They call it "A day without an Illegal" as if we desperately depended on them. What happened before they started coming over?  We were doing quite well, actually. The ironic part is that Mexico runs strict border control on their southern border, while the northern they are encouraging Mexican citizens to sneak across. This posses a huge threat. At any time a terrorist can infiltrate and who would know? If we were to go to war with Mexico, whose side do you think all the illegals would take?  Those that aren't working merely receive our tax dollars in welfare checks. In fact, those who are working can't very well be fired or deported, because of roadblocks set up by the liberals. Liberals have driven the problem down so deep that now you can't deport illegals without consequences. Say you deport all illegals, well by now you can't do that without getting rid of a lot of cheap labor, thus goes up the price of ordinary goods. So you have to lower, in fact get rid of, minimum wage. Minimum wages cause many American businesses to pay their employees more than they can afford. Next step is to reduce welfare to only the disabled or short term unemployed so our tax dollars are no longer going to support illegals on welfare. Then the IRS needs to be dissolved. This can be done simply by instating a VAT tax. But I would much rather pay eight dollars for a head of lettuce than pay the thousands for all their Medicaid, welfare, etc.

     Our problem is that the unions won't let any of this happen. Unions make much impossible and tie us up even more. Get rid of these and America still has a chance to knock sense into those who say the illegal should be made legal, the wrong made right.  What we can do against this is to buy American, vote republican and hope they keep boycotting. After all, if they don't buy American things, they will soon learn how hard is to live in this country without. 

 
Support America-

Deport Illegals
 

 

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As that this blog covers various things, I might as well give you the basics here so as not to confuse you. I'm homeschooled (of course), a freshman though I should be in 8th grade, and have the greatest teacher in the world. I enjoy science the most- biology to be specific. To be even more specific; herpetology- the study of reptiles and amphibians. I can't see why nobody likes them! I also like politics- a whole lot! I am just about as right wing as they come and I love a good debate. I am also a boy scout, with the rank of star. for those of you non-scouters, that's 5 of seven. Backpacking is one of my favourite pastimes, along with painting models, anything that has to do with LOTR, reading and swimming. Swimming at least whem it's summer, when it's not it'sALL THE TIME. I have a Dumerils boa constrictor whose name is Sinatra ,and an iguana named Xerxes. My brother (whose blog is at The historian) loves history, and so I do too. He has a HUGE collection of toy soilders(over 1000). Unfortunately he sides with all my historical heroes' enemies. He's a confederate, not really..well....

 Most suprisingly, most movies I watch are from the 30's and 40's, though now I watch modern movies, too. Those are the basics of the topics I will cover, so I hope you like it.