Jesse Helms passes away
While many of us will be celebrating our nation's Independence Day today, another event has also occurred. Former North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms has passed away.
He was 86 and lived a long life right on the Senate floor. While controversial due to his ultra-conservative views, he was, nonetheless, a great statesman and a great patriot. He loved America and he loved God.
He had tough views on such things as abortion, gun control, and the enemies of this country, yet he was always the ultimate gentleman in expressing his point of view. Completely likable, he stayed firm and unmovable when it came to issues that he placed strong belief in.
Jesse Helms, a Republican, remained in the Senate for 6 terms, beginning in 1972.
Jesse Helms has gained his ultimate freedom today, the day when the nation celebrates hers.
Labels: News
Learning from a fallen leader
Rarely do world leaders strike out to make a real difference in the lives of their people or the politics of their nation the way Benazir Bhutto did. She was a forward thinking woman who lived in exile from her homeland of Pakistan for many years because of her so-called radical political ideals. She expected change in her country. She expected her country to lay aside their radical Muslim ways and step forward into the new century and into the world as a nation which tolerated differences in beliefs and individual freedoms.
She wrote about this before she was assassinated.
Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the Westy by Benazir Bhutto opens up to us all her thoughts and plans for a modern Pakistan. Sadly, those who did not agree with this brave woman finally succeeded in taking her life after other attempts had failed. Attempts that did take the lives of her fellow countrymen by the hundreds.
I wonder how many of us would so courageously risk our lives to move the nation into a more tolerant era of human rights? Or would we shrink back and simply accept the status quo?
Labels: History, News
Current events
Along with any curriculum you may be using, you should include current events so that your children will stay abreast of breaking news items having to do with politics, the economy, foreign relations, technology, science, and weather events. All these things affect our everyday lives in some way, even if the impact doesn't seem immediate.
I read
FOX news online daily as well as
CNN.com. Between the two, I find interesting and timely stories. Keeping up with the news makes the curriculum come alive even more because the student can see how it relates to him and how it makes history right before his eyes.
Labels: General learning, News
Ford Blue Oval Scholars
If your age 16 or older child is an exceptional artist, he may qualify to enter the logo contest at
Ford Blue Oval Scholars. This contest will provide the winners with valuable prizes including design software. Better than that, though, the child will also have an opportunity to communicate with other Ford Scholars, share information with them, learn about community service programs, and find more focus in their educational and career choices.
This
logo design contest is open to both amateurs and professionals, so your gifted child has the same opportunity as others to enter and maybe even win. It does end November 1, so you will need to hurry a bit to pull things together for entries.
Everything you need is on the site in the form of PDFs that you can download and read. There are particular rules for using the Ford emblem. Once completed, the entry can be uploaded right from the site in either color or black and white.
The top ten designs will be chosen by a panel assembled by Ford Motor Company. Those designs will then be submitted to the Ford Blue Oval Scholars who will vote online for the winning entry. You are limited to three entries per person.
Labels: Art, News
More revisionist history
The United States isn't alone or original in it's notion that it's ok to leave out famous persons or events from the history curriculum that's used in the public school system. It's come to my attention that schools in Britain will now be offering a stripped back version of history. That includes
removing the mention of Winston Churchill, one of Britain's strongest leaders.
If parents and scholars in Britain don't rise up in rebellion over this, then they are truly well-propagandized into believing that the State knows all and is best suited to educate the children. Already in our own country of the US, much of history is being erased from the history curriculum under the guise of promoting more modern news and events. All well and good until you wipe from memory the atrocities that occurred due to the ruthlessness of man against man. How much history must we remove before we all become wards of the state?
Oh, wait. We already are.
Labels: History, News, Opinion
Home made pet food
Recently, there was a recall of various brands of pet foods, including a brand I'd always used for my cat and dog. My cat died, and now I wonder if the pet food killed her.
I've switched brands to one that wasn't under the recall. Still, could making my own pet food be the best solution?
Labels: Free stuff, News, Safety
Homeland Security tips
Since the threat of attack these days is always upon us, it's a very good idea to be as prepared as you can for such things. One way is to visit
Ready.gov and learn about preparedness. As a family, you can gather supplies as needed, store them in a convenient location, and make a plan for what to do if all power fails or other disasters hit. This readiness package can be used in times of natural disasters, as well.
This site even has a portion dedicated to kids called
Ready Kids to help them be prepared without causing them to be so fearful.
Labels: Education, Free stuff, General learning, News
Discounts for homeschoolers
You probably already know that teachers can get discounts and deals for purchases relating to their classroom needs. It's a great idea, but many places don't extend the same benefit to homeschoolers. However, there are places that do.
Bella Online gives you a list of places that will give discounts to homeschoolers. The site author also adds in some caveats so you aren't disappointed if a local retailer such as Walmart decides NOT to honor the discounts.
Labels: Education, News, Reviews, Shopping
Blog of the Day!
This blog was selected Blog of the day at
PayPerPost! Now I know that's a random, computer generated selection, but I was so pleased to see it there. See, I have worked hard writing my posts in my blogs - all of them. This is, to me, a neat form of recognition.
If you want to learn more about how you can earn money blogging, just click the widget over there in the sidebar.
This money making opportunity is real. I am paying for my car with the money, plus I am giving to others, tithing to the church, and living more comfortably than I thought possible.
Technorati tags:
PayPerPostLabels: Musings, News
National Consumer Protection Week
February 4 through 10 has been designated
National Consumer Protection Week. You can learn to protect yourself and your assets by following some simple procedures. Don't fall prey to fraud. At the
National Consumer Protection Week website, you can learn ways to protect yourself.
Fraudulent promotions seek to exploit people’s financial fantasies, needs, and general optimism. But informed consumers are better able to see through frauds and deceptions, whether they take the form of questionable claims in an ad, ‘breathless’ offers that come in the mail or email, or schemes that sound like sure-fire successes. Perhaps more important, informed consumers know where to go for information about their rights, and how and where to complain.
Get free information and materials. Help yourself and help others by reaching out.
Technorati tags:
National Consumer Protection Week,
fraud,
financialLabels: Education, Free stuff, News
My posts here have been lifted
I discovered not only a link to my blog, but that every single post title has been lifted and placed on someone else's blog as if I'm a contributing writer. I'm not. I want them taken off that blog, which is called BloGathlon, and never posted there again.
Since you are lifting my posts, I hope you read this one as well. I don't appreciate it one bit. I'm NOT a contributing writer for your blog.
Labels: News
