ACORN is protesting again today because there are still a bunch of banks who wouldn't jump on the Obama bandwagon and agree to participate in the foreclosure plan put forth in his foreclosure prevention plan.
The whole thing is ridiculous!
In case you haven't been following it closely, I'll summarize the issue for you. There are many people whose homes have gone into foreclosure and the banks are taking them back and telling the families they have to move out. Is this unfair? Do they have an opportunity to pay their bills? Are they making payments?
Well... let's see. Many of these families have run up credit card bills and other consumer debt and continued to borrow, borrow, borrow (like many of us), but they borrowed to the point that they no longer pay their bills. Many of them also took out home equity loans and now that they're not making their payments, the banks want their money or the homes. BUT, Obama (and others) say that these people should keep their homes whether they've paid their bills or not. They also make it look like the banks are just TAKING these people's homes and leaving tons of empty homes in the United States. Weeeell, they aren't just TAKING these people's homes. There was a legal contract and these people haven't PAID their house payment and then the bank takes the home. There is a huge difference. It's not a matter of prejudice - whether against someone due to race or social status (poverty), it's simply a matter of taking someone's house who doesn't pay the bills. If you don't pay your electric bill, your electricity is turned off. If you don't pay your water bill, that is turned off. Ooohhh, well, actually, for some people that's not true since the government pays it for them....
Doesn't anyone see the trend here. When you give, give, give, they ask for more, more, more. (Think of the car company bailouts, bank bailouts, stimulus money, etc.) Now I'm not saying that help is bad. It's not! Biblically, we're supposed to help our neighbor, but when that person begins to take advantage of the help and they won't HELP THEMSELVES, then you have a problem. Chris and I have been on the receiving end of help numerous times, but when we have the ability, we also help others and certainly we DO continually try to help ourselves, but since I constantly seem to get sick lately, we have had to have some help. We are grateful for that, but would never take advantage of it.
What about the rest of us?!? We don't have any money either. We are struggling day to day to pay our bills, get food, and make ends meet. We've had help lately from friends and our church - as have some of you who are reading this, I'm sure. Life isn't easy, but we ARE using the little bit of money we do have to PAY OUR BILLS, not go buy new clothes, have our hair styled, and see the latest movie.
So I'm kind of tired of people saying that we need to help these poor little people with the foreclosure notices. I KNOW some of them and they aren't paying their bills. They make the same amount of money we do - some of them - and others who don't LIVE OFF THE GOVERNMENT.
OK, I better stop there because I'm just really irritated about all this. Christopher heard me and Chris talking about this one day and said, "If the banks are lowering the payments and taking away loans that the people say they can't pay, why are we paying ours?"
If a nine-year-old can figure it out, why can't the rest of us?!?
Sonya
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
North Korea says that US is setting stage for nuclear war
It's ironic to me that if you read the news in North Korea, they say that we (the United States) are basically establishing scene for nuclear war. As the July 4 weekend approaches, I can't help but feel an increasing pit in my stomach. I'm just glad I won't be in Hawaii for the weekend.
It seems that if we should be allowed to put defense mechanisms in place in the event that there is an attack - nuclear or otherwise - on any American territory. Any country should be able to do that. But with a North Korean ship floating around that is potentially carrying nuclear weapons and with the dictator's comments that he will basically annihilate the United States, I'd say there is justifiable reason to be nervous - and at the very least, prepared.
Here is a link to one of the articles giving North Korea's "point of view."
Sonya
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
It seems that if we should be allowed to put defense mechanisms in place in the event that there is an attack - nuclear or otherwise - on any American territory. Any country should be able to do that. But with a North Korean ship floating around that is potentially carrying nuclear weapons and with the dictator's comments that he will basically annihilate the United States, I'd say there is justifiable reason to be nervous - and at the very least, prepared.
Here is a link to one of the articles giving North Korea's "point of view."
Sonya
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
Phone calls about stimulus funds for individuals is a scam
My mom called me this evening all excited. She had received a phone call from "Washington DC" (on the caller ID) stating that they had her phone number as a potential person who would benefit from the stimulus package funds. These funds are supposed to go to people who need the money the most, but it's on a "first come, first serve, most needy basis," the message stated.
As most already know, the stimulus funds are going to fund "pork" projects for the people who supported the move to put our great-great-great grandchildren in debt. The money will in no way help those of us working every day to pay taxes that will fund the project.
So anyway, I suspected it was a scam from the beginning and after some research found the following website that does indeed expose the scam at http://bbbconsumereducation.com/?p=994
The website the message tells you to visit is www.myfedmoney.org. Please tell your parents and others about this so that they will be aware if they receive a call of this nature, just ignore it. Obviously, it's too good to be true that you would get something for nothing, even if the "nothing" is the trillions of tax dollars that we are paying into this stimulus project.
Sonya Haskins
As most already know, the stimulus funds are going to fund "pork" projects for the people who supported the move to put our great-great-great grandchildren in debt. The money will in no way help those of us working every day to pay taxes that will fund the project.
So anyway, I suspected it was a scam from the beginning and after some research found the following website that does indeed expose the scam at http://bbbconsumereducation.com/?p=994
The website the message tells you to visit is www.myfedmoney.org. Please tell your parents and others about this so that they will be aware if they receive a call of this nature, just ignore it. Obviously, it's too good to be true that you would get something for nothing, even if the "nothing" is the trillions of tax dollars that we are paying into this stimulus project.
Sonya Haskins
Drug Resistant Swine Flu in Denmark
A man in Denmark has the flu. Doctors say it's drug resistant, but it hasn't spread beyond that one patient. Yeah right. Except for all the people the patient came in contact with for two days before going to the hospital, all the doctors, nurses, cleaning personnel, his family, etc..... Here we go. The virus is mutating. It continues to spread. There are nowhere near the number of deaths for a typical flu season, but this is NOT a typical flu season. This is NOT EVEN flu season! This is summer. When flu season gets here, we are going to be slammed. Then people will worry, but by then it will be too late. They cannot possibly create a vaccine for THIS flu for THIS year because it came too late (like the 1918 flu) in the season and it is mutating this summer (like the 1918 flu). Sonya
From Associated Press
Drug-Resistant Swine Flu Turns Up in Denmark
Monday, June 29, 2009
Print ShareThisHealth officials have confirmed a case of swine flu that is resistant to Tamiflu, the leading pharmaceutical weapon against the new virus.
Read the rest of the article here.
From Associated Press
Drug-Resistant Swine Flu Turns Up in Denmark
Monday, June 29, 2009
Print ShareThisHealth officials have confirmed a case of swine flu that is resistant to Tamiflu, the leading pharmaceutical weapon against the new virus.
Read the rest of the article here.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Couple arrested for fight involving Cheetos
According to an article from the Associated Press dated Saturday, June 27, 2009, a couple in Bedford County, Tennessee was arrested for a fight that involved Cheetos. The 40-year-old man and 44-year-old woman were charged with domestic assault.
As I read the article, I was thinking about how Cheetos make your fingers sticky and orange. Although part of the yummy tastes comes from licking that off, I sure hope they let them wash up before putting them in the cell.
Only in Tennessee would people use Cheetos as a weapon. At least they weren't throwing grenades at one another.
Sonya
As I read the article, I was thinking about how Cheetos make your fingers sticky and orange. Although part of the yummy tastes comes from licking that off, I sure hope they let them wash up before putting them in the cell.
Only in Tennessee would people use Cheetos as a weapon. At least they weren't throwing grenades at one another.
Sonya
Friday, June 26, 2009
Michael Jackson 1958-2009
I was sitting at the cafe yesterday working on my new book when I saw the Breaking News release about Michael Jackson being taken to the hospital, then later they announced his death. I think it's so sad that he never really had a chance to have a normal life. A reporter commented that he is one of the most recognized faces in the world and definitely THE most recognized African American male (although they made the comment that Obama might catch up with him now). Despite all his money and and fame and all the THINGS he had, he never seemed really happy. He gave up normalcy so that others could be entertained.
I remember watching Thriller and other videos on MTV when I was a teenager and it was fascinating. Of course I tried doing the "moon walk" and other MJ moves along with millions of other young people... Today I was watching some of the tributes to Jackson and his moves still amaze me. I was tempted to stand up and try something like I had when I was 15, but I decided against it. I wasn't good at making the "moves" twenty-something years ago, but today I'd probably end up in the hospital if I did that stuff.
Sonya
"Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death" Psalm 68:20
I remember watching Thriller and other videos on MTV when I was a teenager and it was fascinating. Of course I tried doing the "moon walk" and other MJ moves along with millions of other young people... Today I was watching some of the tributes to Jackson and his moves still amaze me. I was tempted to stand up and try something like I had when I was 15, but I decided against it. I wasn't good at making the "moves" twenty-something years ago, but today I'd probably end up in the hospital if I did that stuff.
Sonya
"Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death" Psalm 68:20
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Teaching Foreign Languages
When it comes to teaching foreign languages, parents have the ability to teach their children so much more than vocabularies and grammar. They have the amazing opportunity to instill in their children a respect for foreign countries, a concern for people of every language, and a desire to use language as a way to tear down barriers and even share the gospel.
Why Teach Foreign Language
Many people don’t give foreign languages much thought before their student is required to take it during the high school years. Of course it’s great if you can introduce foreign languages before then, but don’t fret if your children are all taller than you are and you’ve just now gotten around to it.
For most people, the most obvious reason to teach foreign languages is because it’s required. Most states require at least two foreign language credits in the same language for high school graduation.
Aside from that obvious fact, you might want to consider the following:
- Students seem to have a more global perspective on the world when they study foreign languages (in other words, they aren’t the center of the universe)
- Fluency (or even a moderate level of proficiency) in a second language can translate to better jobs and more job opportunities
- The ability to speak with someone in their own language can sometimes mean the difference between a positive relationship and a negative one
- If you ever move to or visit a foreign country, you’ll be a step ahead in learning the language (even if you learn a different second language while you’re young, it makes learning other languages easier)
- Foreign travel is more fun when you can communicate with natives of the country.
- Study of foreign language helps students with English vocabulary.
- Students who study foreign languages seem to have a greater grasp of other subjects and can even study original sources in the original language.
Many people in the United States see no point in learning a foreign language. As a matter of fact, many have the attitude that everyone in the world should learn English. However, practically every other country teaches their children more than one language and most other developed countries require fluency in one, two, or even three foreign languages before they can graduate.
Not only is our lack of foreign language aptitude embarrassing, but with our foundations as a Christian nation, I also find it sad. We cannot GO into the world, as Jesus told us to do, and share the gospel if we can't even communicate with the people of the world, but I can tell you that other religious groups like Muslims ARE learning other languages and they are teaching foreign languages to their children from very young ages so those people sure will be able to share their "gospel" with anyone who is willing to listen.
Choosing a Language
If a student attends public or private school, unless he plans to study foreign languages at home, he is pretty much limited by which languages the school offers. Many schools offer a great variety of languages, though, so check with yours to see what the options are. Some offer the traditional languages and even a few eccentric ones! There are some amazing schools across the United States that actually focus on foreign languages through immersion programs. Some of these are public government schools and they even teach languages like Chinese, Japanese and Korean!
If you teach your child at home, you can pretty much any language with the only limitation being the ability to locate materials and your ability to teach the language. Since you can pretty much choose any language, here are some general guidelines.
Obviously, it makes sense to study Spanish if you live in an area with a large Hispanic population, Arabic if you live near an Arabic population, etc. If you live in a bilingual neighborhood, take advantage of that fact and allow your child to learn the foreign language through natural conversation from other local children. I always recommend that parents learn languages along with their children, but in the case of bilingual neighborhoods, it’s even that much more important that you study the language with your child so that you’ll know what he is saying! Develop the ability to communicate with your neighbor.
If you move frequently or if you know you’ll be moving in the next few years, find out what language is spoken in the place you might move to. If you will be living near the Canadian border, learn French. If your company has headquarters in Brazil and there is a possibility that you could travel – or live – there, learn Portuguese. If you’re trying to adopt a child from Thailand, learn Thai.
Here are some other languages, some career field suggestions and reasons these languages are beneficial.
Latin
Sciences, medical, journalism
Vocabulary, terminology, body parts, grammar
Chinese
Travel, communication, business
Spoken by more humans than any other language
German
Business, technology, banking, science
English is Germanic; great stepping stone to learn other Germanic languages such as Dutch, Swedish
Spanish
Medical, fast foods, service industries
So you can talk with increasing Spanish-speaking population
French
Poetry, research, travel, science
Considered world’s second most influential language; good for international communication
Arabic
International issues, religion
Quickly becoming a dominant language simply because of the spread of Islam
Another idea is to study a less common language simply because it is less common. If you teach your child a language that very few people in the United States speaks and he becomes fluent in that language, his skills could be in high demand as he grows older. Of course the difficulty with that plan is that you’ll need to provide opportunities for him to practice the language to learn proper pronunciation and colloquialisms and continue to keep his skills in practice over the years. If no one in your area speaks the language, this might be difficult.
The above factors are important when considering which language to study, but I believe there is one final factor that outweighs all the others. As a Christian, I believe God knit each of us in our mothers’ wombs and knew us before we were even born. He loved us enough to send his son to die on the cross to atone for our sins. When considering which language to study, I believe it’s important to pray about the decision of language study.
Look at your child’s unique talents and gifts. Pray for that child. Pray for guidance. Rather than casually selecting a language to teach your child based on what you studied in high school or what was on sale at the last curriculum fair, thoughtfully choose a language based on the leading of the Holy Spirit following prayer and consideration. God knows what that child’s future holds and with proper guidance, you can prepare your child now for something that he/she will use for God’s glory later in life.
Teaching a Foreign Language
Of course there are many ways to teach a foreign language. You can travel to a foreign country and immerse yourself in the language. You can purchase books, DVDs, audio materials, computer programs, and more. You could hire a tutor, enroll in a co-op class, or study at home alone or as a family. There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to the method of learning a foreign language. You have to do what works for your family!
There are some things suggestions that might make a difference in how well your child retains the language.
First, realize that when you teach a foreign language, you have the ability to make language REAL for your child. It’s not just more schoolwork. When you introduce foreign languages to your children, you don’t even have to start with the language. Once you have picked a language, start with the people. Bring the language alive for your children by showing them pictures of the people who speak the language. Locate countries on the map or a globe where the language is spoken. What’s the economy like? Do the people have fresh water? What type of government do they have? Religion? Education? Does everyone go to school? Are they allowed to homeschool? Make it personal for your child.
Once you have created an interest in the people, then introduce the language with whichever method you choose. Meanwhile, remember to have fun! It will be easier if you learn the language as a family. If your child is learning Chinese, learn it with her! Practice using vocabulary words together. Make vocabulary cards and tape them to the objects. Count as you go up and down the stairs. Practice giving orders and saying words like “please” and “thank you” in the language.
Recommended Foreign Language Programs
Here are some ideas as far as the different programs available...
Rosetta Stone is terrific for visual/auditory and hands-on learners, but is incredibly expensive. This is a computer based program so that's another thing to keep in mind if you don't have a one. Another drawback with Rosetta Stone is that it is great for teaching conversational language, but I do not recommend it if you also want to learn grammar because the program itself doesn't really teach grammar. This is a downside that I do not think is acceptable for college-bound students. If you do use Rosetta Stone, which I think is a wonderful program for teaching vocabulary and conversational language, I think the parents should also add in a grammatical component with another book. There is almost any language imaginable available.
Auralog's Tell Me More is similar to Rosetta Stone, but adds in a little more grammar training. I've had a little difficulty with the software working properly sometimes, but it's still a good program and much cheaper than Rosetta Stone.
Personally, my favorite language program is Living Language (published by Random House), which is funny because I started using it in high school for fun. The Living Language programs are great and they have a terrific combination of spoken language AND grammar. I don't think it's enough to "speak" the language, but it's also good to understand what you're doing. This program is good for auditory learners since it's on CD. In the book, you follow along with what the CD is saying so that reinforces what you're learning. This is a fabulous program and they actually have a new version specifically for children ages 4-8. It comes with stickers (in Spanish to identify objects), three books (Spanish for the kitchen, the car, and everywhere else), and audio CDs with songs, etc. The younger programs come in the most popular languages, but materials for older students come in many different languages.
I also love any of the Berlitz language books, but they also have a lot of audio and software products. I use the books quite frequently when I need to look up something and I’m not familiar with a language. They are designed so well that you don’t have to read the entire book just to find a simple answer to a grammatical or vocabulary question. I recently started the Berlitz program for German and the boys really like this. It comes with audio CDs and thus far we’ve really enjoyed the whole program.
For Latin, we're using Latin's Not So Tough. It's a very good program and it's easy to use even if you don't know Latin. There is a DVD that comes with it and you can use it as video school for each lesson because it actually teaches the grammar, goes over pronunciation of vocabulary, etc. It is lively and entertaining.
Greek-N-Stuff produces a wonderful curriculum for learning Greek called Hey, Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! You can buy vocabulary cards, audio CDs, and other materials to supplement the books.
Bob Jones also has the mainstream languages - Spanish, French, etc. - and they come in a whole set with CDs, books, workbooks, etc. These are nicely done and would work for any homeschool family wanting to give their child a good base in any of the traditional foreign languages before they go to college. These are DEFINITELY meant for high school age kids (possibly junior high) and the work is intense, but like any Bob Jones material, it is very good.
If you child feels led to study something exotic, then try to make that possible. Living Language covers dozens of languages, as does Rosetta Stone and Berlitz. You should have no difficulty finding the language your child wants to study. If you need help, let me know and I'll help you find a good program.
The Learnables, published by the International Linguistics Corporation, is a simple, economical foreign language curriculum. The principle behind The Learnables is that if you hear the foreign vocabulary word and associate it with pictures, you will learn the language. Linguistically, children think in "pictures" until about puberty, at which time they switch over to translation mode. The Learnables forces students who have already passed the age of puberty to think pictorially again and it is much easier to learn foreign vocabulary when you are not also trying to translate. One drawback of the program is that you have to be looking at the book to learn, but even very young children can use this program independently to learn vocabulary and sentences. There is an extensive evaluation of The Learnables here.
If you want to introduce very young children to Latin, I would use Song School Latin. It’s terrific and it is especially designed to appeal to early elementary age children. You can read a full review here.
For the family that prefers a bit more structure and less activity, you might prefer Latina Christiana by Cheryl Lowe. This is a good elementary age Latin program and it goes more in depth than the Song School Latin, but it is not as “activity” oriented. So it’s just a matter of what teaching style you prefer and the learning style of your children.
I love languages and I’ve used many programs over the years so I hope this can be helpful to you. I still enjoy using these and introducing languages to my children. If you have any questions about a particular curriculum or a particular language's difficulty, etc., I would be happy to help you. Just e-mail!
Sonya Haskins
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
Why Teach Foreign Language
Many people don’t give foreign languages much thought before their student is required to take it during the high school years. Of course it’s great if you can introduce foreign languages before then, but don’t fret if your children are all taller than you are and you’ve just now gotten around to it.
For most people, the most obvious reason to teach foreign languages is because it’s required. Most states require at least two foreign language credits in the same language for high school graduation.
Aside from that obvious fact, you might want to consider the following:
- Students seem to have a more global perspective on the world when they study foreign languages (in other words, they aren’t the center of the universe)
- Fluency (or even a moderate level of proficiency) in a second language can translate to better jobs and more job opportunities
- The ability to speak with someone in their own language can sometimes mean the difference between a positive relationship and a negative one
- If you ever move to or visit a foreign country, you’ll be a step ahead in learning the language (even if you learn a different second language while you’re young, it makes learning other languages easier)
- Foreign travel is more fun when you can communicate with natives of the country.
- Study of foreign language helps students with English vocabulary.
- Students who study foreign languages seem to have a greater grasp of other subjects and can even study original sources in the original language.
Many people in the United States see no point in learning a foreign language. As a matter of fact, many have the attitude that everyone in the world should learn English. However, practically every other country teaches their children more than one language and most other developed countries require fluency in one, two, or even three foreign languages before they can graduate.
Not only is our lack of foreign language aptitude embarrassing, but with our foundations as a Christian nation, I also find it sad. We cannot GO into the world, as Jesus told us to do, and share the gospel if we can't even communicate with the people of the world, but I can tell you that other religious groups like Muslims ARE learning other languages and they are teaching foreign languages to their children from very young ages so those people sure will be able to share their "gospel" with anyone who is willing to listen.
Choosing a Language
If a student attends public or private school, unless he plans to study foreign languages at home, he is pretty much limited by which languages the school offers. Many schools offer a great variety of languages, though, so check with yours to see what the options are. Some offer the traditional languages and even a few eccentric ones! There are some amazing schools across the United States that actually focus on foreign languages through immersion programs. Some of these are public government schools and they even teach languages like Chinese, Japanese and Korean!
If you teach your child at home, you can pretty much any language with the only limitation being the ability to locate materials and your ability to teach the language. Since you can pretty much choose any language, here are some general guidelines.
Obviously, it makes sense to study Spanish if you live in an area with a large Hispanic population, Arabic if you live near an Arabic population, etc. If you live in a bilingual neighborhood, take advantage of that fact and allow your child to learn the foreign language through natural conversation from other local children. I always recommend that parents learn languages along with their children, but in the case of bilingual neighborhoods, it’s even that much more important that you study the language with your child so that you’ll know what he is saying! Develop the ability to communicate with your neighbor.
If you move frequently or if you know you’ll be moving in the next few years, find out what language is spoken in the place you might move to. If you will be living near the Canadian border, learn French. If your company has headquarters in Brazil and there is a possibility that you could travel – or live – there, learn Portuguese. If you’re trying to adopt a child from Thailand, learn Thai.
Here are some other languages, some career field suggestions and reasons these languages are beneficial.
Latin
Sciences, medical, journalism
Vocabulary, terminology, body parts, grammar
Chinese
Travel, communication, business
Spoken by more humans than any other language
German
Business, technology, banking, science
English is Germanic; great stepping stone to learn other Germanic languages such as Dutch, Swedish
Spanish
Medical, fast foods, service industries
So you can talk with increasing Spanish-speaking population
French
Poetry, research, travel, science
Considered world’s second most influential language; good for international communication
Arabic
International issues, religion
Quickly becoming a dominant language simply because of the spread of Islam
Another idea is to study a less common language simply because it is less common. If you teach your child a language that very few people in the United States speaks and he becomes fluent in that language, his skills could be in high demand as he grows older. Of course the difficulty with that plan is that you’ll need to provide opportunities for him to practice the language to learn proper pronunciation and colloquialisms and continue to keep his skills in practice over the years. If no one in your area speaks the language, this might be difficult.
The above factors are important when considering which language to study, but I believe there is one final factor that outweighs all the others. As a Christian, I believe God knit each of us in our mothers’ wombs and knew us before we were even born. He loved us enough to send his son to die on the cross to atone for our sins. When considering which language to study, I believe it’s important to pray about the decision of language study.
Look at your child’s unique talents and gifts. Pray for that child. Pray for guidance. Rather than casually selecting a language to teach your child based on what you studied in high school or what was on sale at the last curriculum fair, thoughtfully choose a language based on the leading of the Holy Spirit following prayer and consideration. God knows what that child’s future holds and with proper guidance, you can prepare your child now for something that he/she will use for God’s glory later in life.
Teaching a Foreign Language
Of course there are many ways to teach a foreign language. You can travel to a foreign country and immerse yourself in the language. You can purchase books, DVDs, audio materials, computer programs, and more. You could hire a tutor, enroll in a co-op class, or study at home alone or as a family. There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to the method of learning a foreign language. You have to do what works for your family!
There are some things suggestions that might make a difference in how well your child retains the language.
First, realize that when you teach a foreign language, you have the ability to make language REAL for your child. It’s not just more schoolwork. When you introduce foreign languages to your children, you don’t even have to start with the language. Once you have picked a language, start with the people. Bring the language alive for your children by showing them pictures of the people who speak the language. Locate countries on the map or a globe where the language is spoken. What’s the economy like? Do the people have fresh water? What type of government do they have? Religion? Education? Does everyone go to school? Are they allowed to homeschool? Make it personal for your child.
Once you have created an interest in the people, then introduce the language with whichever method you choose. Meanwhile, remember to have fun! It will be easier if you learn the language as a family. If your child is learning Chinese, learn it with her! Practice using vocabulary words together. Make vocabulary cards and tape them to the objects. Count as you go up and down the stairs. Practice giving orders and saying words like “please” and “thank you” in the language.
Recommended Foreign Language Programs
Here are some ideas as far as the different programs available...
Rosetta Stone is terrific for visual/auditory and hands-on learners, but is incredibly expensive. This is a computer based program so that's another thing to keep in mind if you don't have a one. Another drawback with Rosetta Stone is that it is great for teaching conversational language, but I do not recommend it if you also want to learn grammar because the program itself doesn't really teach grammar. This is a downside that I do not think is acceptable for college-bound students. If you do use Rosetta Stone, which I think is a wonderful program for teaching vocabulary and conversational language, I think the parents should also add in a grammatical component with another book. There is almost any language imaginable available.
Auralog's Tell Me More is similar to Rosetta Stone, but adds in a little more grammar training. I've had a little difficulty with the software working properly sometimes, but it's still a good program and much cheaper than Rosetta Stone.
Personally, my favorite language program is Living Language (published by Random House), which is funny because I started using it in high school for fun. The Living Language programs are great and they have a terrific combination of spoken language AND grammar. I don't think it's enough to "speak" the language, but it's also good to understand what you're doing. This program is good for auditory learners since it's on CD. In the book, you follow along with what the CD is saying so that reinforces what you're learning. This is a fabulous program and they actually have a new version specifically for children ages 4-8. It comes with stickers (in Spanish to identify objects), three books (Spanish for the kitchen, the car, and everywhere else), and audio CDs with songs, etc. The younger programs come in the most popular languages, but materials for older students come in many different languages.
I also love any of the Berlitz language books, but they also have a lot of audio and software products. I use the books quite frequently when I need to look up something and I’m not familiar with a language. They are designed so well that you don’t have to read the entire book just to find a simple answer to a grammatical or vocabulary question. I recently started the Berlitz program for German and the boys really like this. It comes with audio CDs and thus far we’ve really enjoyed the whole program.
For Latin, we're using Latin's Not So Tough. It's a very good program and it's easy to use even if you don't know Latin. There is a DVD that comes with it and you can use it as video school for each lesson because it actually teaches the grammar, goes over pronunciation of vocabulary, etc. It is lively and entertaining.
Greek-N-Stuff produces a wonderful curriculum for learning Greek called Hey, Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! You can buy vocabulary cards, audio CDs, and other materials to supplement the books.
Bob Jones also has the mainstream languages - Spanish, French, etc. - and they come in a whole set with CDs, books, workbooks, etc. These are nicely done and would work for any homeschool family wanting to give their child a good base in any of the traditional foreign languages before they go to college. These are DEFINITELY meant for high school age kids (possibly junior high) and the work is intense, but like any Bob Jones material, it is very good.
If you child feels led to study something exotic, then try to make that possible. Living Language covers dozens of languages, as does Rosetta Stone and Berlitz. You should have no difficulty finding the language your child wants to study. If you need help, let me know and I'll help you find a good program.
The Learnables, published by the International Linguistics Corporation, is a simple, economical foreign language curriculum. The principle behind The Learnables is that if you hear the foreign vocabulary word and associate it with pictures, you will learn the language. Linguistically, children think in "pictures" until about puberty, at which time they switch over to translation mode. The Learnables forces students who have already passed the age of puberty to think pictorially again and it is much easier to learn foreign vocabulary when you are not also trying to translate. One drawback of the program is that you have to be looking at the book to learn, but even very young children can use this program independently to learn vocabulary and sentences. There is an extensive evaluation of The Learnables here.
If you want to introduce very young children to Latin, I would use Song School Latin. It’s terrific and it is especially designed to appeal to early elementary age children. You can read a full review here.
For the family that prefers a bit more structure and less activity, you might prefer Latina Christiana by Cheryl Lowe. This is a good elementary age Latin program and it goes more in depth than the Song School Latin, but it is not as “activity” oriented. So it’s just a matter of what teaching style you prefer and the learning style of your children.
I love languages and I’ve used many programs over the years so I hope this can be helpful to you. I still enjoy using these and introducing languages to my children. If you have any questions about a particular curriculum or a particular language's difficulty, etc., I would be happy to help you. Just e-mail!
Sonya Haskins
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
Sunday, June 21, 2009
It's only a matter of time...
At Obama’s website, one of the “issues” he addresses is education. Before the election, I posted several things about Obama’s views on education, which basically boil down to government-sponsored education for about twenty years starting from around age two.
I’m continuing to keep an eye on any changes the Obama administration might try to make in regards to the education of our young people. Sometimes it’s a matter of reading between the lines with the use of words or phrases that make a subtle difference in the meaning of a statement.
Regarding K-12 education in the United States, Obama’s website states:
• Improve K-12 schooling:
We will recruit an army of new teachers and develop innovative ways to reward teachers who are doing a great job, and we will reform No Child Left Behind so that we are supporting schools that need improvement, rather than punishing them.
I found the use of the phrase “army of new teachers” very interesting! That sounds kind of “Hitlerish,” in myopinion…
Then there is also the following to consider:
• Make sure our children are prepared for kindergarten:
One of the most critical times to influence learning in a child's life is the period before he or she reaches kindergarten. We will invest in early childhood education, by dramatically expanding Head Start and other programs to ensure that all of our young children are ready to enter kindergarten.
I totally agree that one of the most critical times in a child’s life is during the preschool years, which is all the more reason why parents should have the option to send one parent to work and keep another one at home to train, love, and nurture preschool age children. The Obama administration has made it clear that any money will go toward expanding government sponsored programs like Head Start rather than making it financially feasible for mothers (or fathers) to stay at home with young children. After all, they take their view of a “village” very seriously and the village is obviously better equipped to handle the needs of young children better than untrained parents.
From the White House website (www.whitehouse.gov), you can read that the:
“President supports a seamless and comprehensive set of services and support for children, from birth through age 5.”
Is anyone paying attention to this stuff?!? “Seamless” means something that is consistent, flowing, or continuous. I’d say that’s exactly the definition the “president” has in mind. What does this mean for parents? This means that nurses will visit your home after you give birth to a child and then they’ll follow the progress of that child to preschool age, when you will be encouraged (or forced) to place your child in a government-sponsored preschool program. Think I’m crazy? Visit Russia, China or North Korea! They used to think it was paranoia, too.
Microsoft Encarta has a really good article about the history of the Soviet Union. Here are some portions from that article:
Many personal freedoms were drastically curtailed in the Soviet Union. …employees needed the permission of management to change jobs and could face criminal prosecution for tardiness or absenteeism. …Soviet citizens continued to be subject to surveillance and interference by the political police. They could join only associations approved by the CPSU. They could not set up businesses or sell their individual services, save for a few minor fields such as tutoring and baby-sitting. State-imposed regulations on personal mobility required residents to carry internal passports and to have them stamped by the police before changing locale; travel abroad was possible only with special authorization. Military service was compulsory and graduates from higher education had to accept work assignments, sometimes in undesirable locations, the first few years after acquiring their diplomas. (Sonya’s note: This sounds strangely familiar to Obama’s new college loan programs that eliminate college loan debt when graduates work in “underserved” areas. We’re not far away from mandatory service.)
Public services to some degree offset low incomes. A point of pride was the government’s free provision of health care, education, and social-security benefits. Even here, though, problems of quality, availability, and equity simmered beneath the surface.
The Soviet rulers saw comprehensive public education as necessary for purposes of economic and social modernization and political indoctrination. In 1918 they took over all private and parochial schools and colleges, abolished fees, and determined that all children ages 8 to 15 were to attend school full time. Compulsory study was gradually lengthened, so that by the 1980s most children remained in the classroom from ages 7 to 17. (Sonya’s note: This is the same thing that has happened in the United States over the past 100 years.)
Other than my comments, the above was cited from "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2009. http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2009 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Of course we could also look at the system of education in China, where:
the Communists combined political propaganda with educational development.
Citizens are still subjected to political propaganda and after being subjected to the views of the state repeatedly, many have stopped thinking for themselves and they simply do as they’re told. Consider the following:
the state controls virtually all aspects of life. Access to housing, health care, and education depend on following state-mandated guidelines of proper social conduct, such as the one-child per family policy. (Also quoted from Microsoft Encarta.)
People need to wake up.
Sonya
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
I’m continuing to keep an eye on any changes the Obama administration might try to make in regards to the education of our young people. Sometimes it’s a matter of reading between the lines with the use of words or phrases that make a subtle difference in the meaning of a statement.
Regarding K-12 education in the United States, Obama’s website states:
• Improve K-12 schooling:
We will recruit an army of new teachers and develop innovative ways to reward teachers who are doing a great job, and we will reform No Child Left Behind so that we are supporting schools that need improvement, rather than punishing them.
I found the use of the phrase “army of new teachers” very interesting! That sounds kind of “Hitlerish,” in myopinion…
Then there is also the following to consider:
• Make sure our children are prepared for kindergarten:
One of the most critical times to influence learning in a child's life is the period before he or she reaches kindergarten. We will invest in early childhood education, by dramatically expanding Head Start and other programs to ensure that all of our young children are ready to enter kindergarten.
I totally agree that one of the most critical times in a child’s life is during the preschool years, which is all the more reason why parents should have the option to send one parent to work and keep another one at home to train, love, and nurture preschool age children. The Obama administration has made it clear that any money will go toward expanding government sponsored programs like Head Start rather than making it financially feasible for mothers (or fathers) to stay at home with young children. After all, they take their view of a “village” very seriously and the village is obviously better equipped to handle the needs of young children better than untrained parents.
From the White House website (www.whitehouse.gov), you can read that the:
“President supports a seamless and comprehensive set of services and support for children, from birth through age 5.”
Is anyone paying attention to this stuff?!? “Seamless” means something that is consistent, flowing, or continuous. I’d say that’s exactly the definition the “president” has in mind. What does this mean for parents? This means that nurses will visit your home after you give birth to a child and then they’ll follow the progress of that child to preschool age, when you will be encouraged (or forced) to place your child in a government-sponsored preschool program. Think I’m crazy? Visit Russia, China or North Korea! They used to think it was paranoia, too.
Microsoft Encarta has a really good article about the history of the Soviet Union. Here are some portions from that article:
Many personal freedoms were drastically curtailed in the Soviet Union. …employees needed the permission of management to change jobs and could face criminal prosecution for tardiness or absenteeism. …Soviet citizens continued to be subject to surveillance and interference by the political police. They could join only associations approved by the CPSU. They could not set up businesses or sell their individual services, save for a few minor fields such as tutoring and baby-sitting. State-imposed regulations on personal mobility required residents to carry internal passports and to have them stamped by the police before changing locale; travel abroad was possible only with special authorization. Military service was compulsory and graduates from higher education had to accept work assignments, sometimes in undesirable locations, the first few years after acquiring their diplomas. (Sonya’s note: This sounds strangely familiar to Obama’s new college loan programs that eliminate college loan debt when graduates work in “underserved” areas. We’re not far away from mandatory service.)
Public services to some degree offset low incomes. A point of pride was the government’s free provision of health care, education, and social-security benefits. Even here, though, problems of quality, availability, and equity simmered beneath the surface.
The Soviet rulers saw comprehensive public education as necessary for purposes of economic and social modernization and political indoctrination. In 1918 they took over all private and parochial schools and colleges, abolished fees, and determined that all children ages 8 to 15 were to attend school full time. Compulsory study was gradually lengthened, so that by the 1980s most children remained in the classroom from ages 7 to 17. (Sonya’s note: This is the same thing that has happened in the United States over the past 100 years.)
Other than my comments, the above was cited from "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2009. http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2009 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Of course we could also look at the system of education in China, where:
the Communists combined political propaganda with educational development.
Citizens are still subjected to political propaganda and after being subjected to the views of the state repeatedly, many have stopped thinking for themselves and they simply do as they’re told. Consider the following:
the state controls virtually all aspects of life. Access to housing, health care, and education depend on following state-mandated guidelines of proper social conduct, such as the one-child per family policy. (Also quoted from Microsoft Encarta.)
People need to wake up.
Sonya
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
Some thoughts about our loss of self-reliance
I've been thinking a lot about this universal healthcare plan and while I definitely think it's all part of a push toward a one world government, I think there is more to it than that. Here are some things to think about...
- In general, people want access to education. Desensitization and training of our children began in earnest through the public school system starting in the mid-1800s.
- People really want their children to be healthy so they willingly submitted to vaccinations when they were first introduced. As more evidence has come out about the negative side effects of vaccines, it has become increasingly difficult for parents to opt out. (Consider the fact that vaccinations are required for school attendance and many places are denying waivers - for whatever reason, including religious objection.)
- Most people would take advantage of an opportunity to make something "easier" and while there are many reasons that we've moved from home and locally-grown foods, it could largely be boiled down to the fact that people have become lazy. In our society, people have largely forgotten how to obtain food on their own. Since people have to eat, this loss of knowledge translates to a loss of power - the power over one's ability to make choices for one's self. Look at Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters in recent years for an example. People NEEDED the government to step in and provide food and water as they had made no provision for themselves. Even in abuse and hostage situations, most people will succumb to their captors' wishes if they are hungry enough.
- The majority of people in our society largely see access to healthcare as a right rather than a privilege. A hundred or more years ago, people were thankful for their doctors and they only went to the doctor when there was a problem that they couldn't manage through home remedies. Today people go to the doctor for everything from "someone to talk to" and smashed fingers to major medical crises. The problem with this is that we have lost much of the ability to treat our own problems and we've become so dependent on others to provide our healthcare that people seem ready to jump on the bandwagon of universal healthcare.
Could all this reliance on someone else to provide for our needs lead to a beautiful, peaceful one-world society or possibly other more dire consequences?
Here is a link to a blog entry I wrote following some about the universal healthcare plan in particular. I thought you might find some particular facts very interesting. http://thehomeschoollady.blogspot.com/2009/06/will-universal-healthcare-plan-require.html
Sonya
Deuteronomy 4:29 "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."
- In general, people want access to education. Desensitization and training of our children began in earnest through the public school system starting in the mid-1800s.
- People really want their children to be healthy so they willingly submitted to vaccinations when they were first introduced. As more evidence has come out about the negative side effects of vaccines, it has become increasingly difficult for parents to opt out. (Consider the fact that vaccinations are required for school attendance and many places are denying waivers - for whatever reason, including religious objection.)
- Most people would take advantage of an opportunity to make something "easier" and while there are many reasons that we've moved from home and locally-grown foods, it could largely be boiled down to the fact that people have become lazy. In our society, people have largely forgotten how to obtain food on their own. Since people have to eat, this loss of knowledge translates to a loss of power - the power over one's ability to make choices for one's self. Look at Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters in recent years for an example. People NEEDED the government to step in and provide food and water as they had made no provision for themselves. Even in abuse and hostage situations, most people will succumb to their captors' wishes if they are hungry enough.
- The majority of people in our society largely see access to healthcare as a right rather than a privilege. A hundred or more years ago, people were thankful for their doctors and they only went to the doctor when there was a problem that they couldn't manage through home remedies. Today people go to the doctor for everything from "someone to talk to" and smashed fingers to major medical crises. The problem with this is that we have lost much of the ability to treat our own problems and we've become so dependent on others to provide our healthcare that people seem ready to jump on the bandwagon of universal healthcare.
Could all this reliance on someone else to provide for our needs lead to a beautiful, peaceful one-world society or possibly other more dire consequences?
Here is a link to a blog entry I wrote following some about the universal healthcare plan in particular. I thought you might find some particular facts very interesting. http://thehomeschoollady.blogspot.com/2009/06/will-universal-healthcare-plan-require.html
Sonya
Deuteronomy 4:29 "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."
Will Universal Healthcare Plan Require Microchip IDs?
According to a CNN Money article by David Goldman from January 12, 2009,
"President-elect Barack Obama, as part of the effort to revive the economy, has proposed a massive effort to modernize health care by making all health records standardized and electronic.
Here's the audacious plan: Computerize all health records within five years."
Many people would wonder if this would really be possible. There is a lot of talk in Congress these days about the new healthcare plan. Universal healthcare. At what cost? With what requirements? After all, people need to realize that nothing comes without a price tag and I am not talking about the financial one.
Since it looks like the healthcare package is going to pass in some form, let’s just look at how they might make it affordable – and also make it seem like we’re all being done a favor. First, universal government healthcare is established. Then, in order to reduce costs, we need to streamline the system and make sure that there are no gaps in coverage, medical histories, or treatment. The best way to do this would be to make sure that each patient’s medical records are accessible quickly and easily. The best way to accomplish this would be to implant microchips in every individual who subscribes to the government healthcare plan.
Now before you think I’ve completely lost my mind… consider these facts:
September 11, 2001
Terrorists attack the United States
According to the VeriChip website, a company called Applied Digital Solutions saw this horrible event as a reason to create microchips to track the identity and personal medical information of individuals. VeriChip was created only a few short months later in December 2001. Again, according to the website, the goal of the company was “to produce and market an implantable microchip to identify patients in an emergency situation.”
2004
FDA gave approval for VeriChips implantable microchip technology for use in humans.
2007
VeriChip began working with Receptors LLC to create a microchip sensor that would do more than store a patient identification number. The new microchip contains a glucose-sensing system.
March 2009
According to their website, “to complement its healthcare division, VeriChip established VeriGreen Energy Corporation to invest in clean and alternative energy.”
Is it any coincidence that the decision to establish the VeriGreen Energy Corporation followed on the heels of Obama’s Stimulus Package? No. Read the press release from VeriChip dated March 10, 2009:
Following the recently signed stimulus package, which will invest nearly $79 billion in renewable energy, the Company intends to invest in clean and alternative sources of energy to complement its existing healthcare initiatives.
Commenting on the new division, Scott R. Silverman, Executive Chairman, stated, “With our country in its current economic condition, there are two clear areas in which the Obama administration will invest heavily – healthcare and energy. Due to our unique positioning at this time and our strong balance sheet, VeriChip is poised to capitalize on both.
May 6, 2009
VeriChip and Receptors LLC have also decided to cash in on the fear of a bioterrorism attack or an influenza pandemic.
According to a May 6, 2009 press release, Scott Silverman, chairman of VeriChip, stated:
"As we continue to build on our partnership with RECEPTORS, which started with the development of a glucose-sensing RFID implantable microchip, we are moving beyond patient identification to sensors that can detect and identify illnesses and viruses such as influenza. This is an exciting next step for the future of our healthcare division." (emphasis mine)
In other words, the scene has been set. Congress seems ready to implement the universal government healthcare plan. VeriChip and Receptors LLC have the technology ready to provide each participant with a microchip for the benefit of maintaining medical records and detecting illnesses and viruses such as influenza and bioterrorism agents. The Obama Administration is highly likely to support any measure that would streamline the process.
If you think all of this might be voluntary and I’m overreacting, think about public school attendance or vaccinations. Both began as voluntary programs and now are mandatory (or require a jumping through the hoops in order to be “exempt” – as in the cases of homeschooling or vaccination exemption due to religious objection). I could sit here all day and give you examples of things that used to be “voluntary” that are now required by law.
So if you see in the future a universal nationalized government healthcare system that uses microchip technology, you might be right. Is it possible that we could also make the leap between recently developed tracking systems like this and the mention of a “mark” in Revelation 13 that would be required to buy and sell. After all, the technology now exists and it is already being used for other purposes. If our economy experiences a catastrophic failure of any sort, a “simple,” easy method of tracking people and expenditures would likely be put in place.
Maybe I’m paranoid. Hopefully I’m wrong. But it sure seems like someone needs to be recognizing the fact that all these pieces fit together too nicely. Surely that isn’t a coincidence.
Sonya Haskins
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
"President-elect Barack Obama, as part of the effort to revive the economy, has proposed a massive effort to modernize health care by making all health records standardized and electronic.
Here's the audacious plan: Computerize all health records within five years."
Many people would wonder if this would really be possible. There is a lot of talk in Congress these days about the new healthcare plan. Universal healthcare. At what cost? With what requirements? After all, people need to realize that nothing comes without a price tag and I am not talking about the financial one.
Since it looks like the healthcare package is going to pass in some form, let’s just look at how they might make it affordable – and also make it seem like we’re all being done a favor. First, universal government healthcare is established. Then, in order to reduce costs, we need to streamline the system and make sure that there are no gaps in coverage, medical histories, or treatment. The best way to do this would be to make sure that each patient’s medical records are accessible quickly and easily. The best way to accomplish this would be to implant microchips in every individual who subscribes to the government healthcare plan.
Now before you think I’ve completely lost my mind… consider these facts:
September 11, 2001
Terrorists attack the United States
According to the VeriChip website, a company called Applied Digital Solutions saw this horrible event as a reason to create microchips to track the identity and personal medical information of individuals. VeriChip was created only a few short months later in December 2001. Again, according to the website, the goal of the company was “to produce and market an implantable microchip to identify patients in an emergency situation.”
2004
FDA gave approval for VeriChips implantable microchip technology for use in humans.
2007
VeriChip began working with Receptors LLC to create a microchip sensor that would do more than store a patient identification number. The new microchip contains a glucose-sensing system.
March 2009
According to their website, “to complement its healthcare division, VeriChip established VeriGreen Energy Corporation to invest in clean and alternative energy.”
Is it any coincidence that the decision to establish the VeriGreen Energy Corporation followed on the heels of Obama’s Stimulus Package? No. Read the press release from VeriChip dated March 10, 2009:
Following the recently signed stimulus package, which will invest nearly $79 billion in renewable energy, the Company intends to invest in clean and alternative sources of energy to complement its existing healthcare initiatives.
Commenting on the new division, Scott R. Silverman, Executive Chairman, stated, “With our country in its current economic condition, there are two clear areas in which the Obama administration will invest heavily – healthcare and energy. Due to our unique positioning at this time and our strong balance sheet, VeriChip is poised to capitalize on both.
May 6, 2009
VeriChip and Receptors LLC have also decided to cash in on the fear of a bioterrorism attack or an influenza pandemic.
According to a May 6, 2009 press release, Scott Silverman, chairman of VeriChip, stated:
"As we continue to build on our partnership with RECEPTORS, which started with the development of a glucose-sensing RFID implantable microchip, we are moving beyond patient identification to sensors that can detect and identify illnesses and viruses such as influenza. This is an exciting next step for the future of our healthcare division." (emphasis mine)
In other words, the scene has been set. Congress seems ready to implement the universal government healthcare plan. VeriChip and Receptors LLC have the technology ready to provide each participant with a microchip for the benefit of maintaining medical records and detecting illnesses and viruses such as influenza and bioterrorism agents. The Obama Administration is highly likely to support any measure that would streamline the process.
If you think all of this might be voluntary and I’m overreacting, think about public school attendance or vaccinations. Both began as voluntary programs and now are mandatory (or require a jumping through the hoops in order to be “exempt” – as in the cases of homeschooling or vaccination exemption due to religious objection). I could sit here all day and give you examples of things that used to be “voluntary” that are now required by law.
So if you see in the future a universal nationalized government healthcare system that uses microchip technology, you might be right. Is it possible that we could also make the leap between recently developed tracking systems like this and the mention of a “mark” in Revelation 13 that would be required to buy and sell. After all, the technology now exists and it is already being used for other purposes. If our economy experiences a catastrophic failure of any sort, a “simple,” easy method of tracking people and expenditures would likely be put in place.
Maybe I’m paranoid. Hopefully I’m wrong. But it sure seems like someone needs to be recognizing the fact that all these pieces fit together too nicely. Surely that isn’t a coincidence.
Sonya Haskins
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
Christian Children's Fund Removes "Christian" From Name
For those of you who have supported children through the Christian Children's Fund, you might like to be aware of the fact that they have decided to turn their backs on their "Christian" heritage and succumb to the pressures of being politically correct. It's absolutely amazing how quickly our world has changed in the past few years, but the change in the past few months is just astounding. Sonya
This is the announcement on the main webpage at www.christianchildrensfund.org.
Remaining Dedicated: It’s All About the Children
On July 1, Christian Children’s Fund will continue our legacy as ChildFund International.
Although we’re making changes, one thing remains the same - our dedication to serving the world’s deprived, excluded and vulnerable children.
“We will begin our next 70 years with a new name – one that unifies us with others who are working for similar outcomes for children – broadening our reach and strengthening our impact to improve conditions for the world’s children,” said CCF President and CEO Anne Lynam Goddard.
Strangely, it strikes me that the (revised???) beliefs and mission statement sounds like a shortened version of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
CCF Beliefs
At CCF, we believe:
- all children deserve an environment of hope, respect and understanding;
- that poverty is a personal experience for every child and this insight and sensitivity guides all of our actions;
- it takes a global perspective and collaborative effort in order to substantially impact the issues of poverty that are facing children today;
- we must work together to create an environment of understanding towards all children embracing cultural and religious differences;
I know many of you who read this have supported the Christian Children's Fund so I thought this announcement might interest many of you.
Sonya Haskins
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
This is the announcement on the main webpage at www.christianchildrensfund.org.
Remaining Dedicated: It’s All About the Children
On July 1, Christian Children’s Fund will continue our legacy as ChildFund International.
Although we’re making changes, one thing remains the same - our dedication to serving the world’s deprived, excluded and vulnerable children.
“We will begin our next 70 years with a new name – one that unifies us with others who are working for similar outcomes for children – broadening our reach and strengthening our impact to improve conditions for the world’s children,” said CCF President and CEO Anne Lynam Goddard.
Strangely, it strikes me that the (revised???) beliefs and mission statement sounds like a shortened version of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
CCF Beliefs
At CCF, we believe:
- all children deserve an environment of hope, respect and understanding;
- that poverty is a personal experience for every child and this insight and sensitivity guides all of our actions;
- it takes a global perspective and collaborative effort in order to substantially impact the issues of poverty that are facing children today;
- we must work together to create an environment of understanding towards all children embracing cultural and religious differences;
I know many of you who read this have supported the Christian Children's Fund so I thought this announcement might interest many of you.
Sonya Haskins
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
Saturday, June 20, 2009
National Animal Identification System
With all the other changes Obama has enacted in such a short time after taking office, people would be wise to keep an eye on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) to see if this becomes a federally mandated program over the next year. As it stands right now, it is a voluntary program, but we all know how that goes!
As a matter of fact, The state of Wisconsin actually implemented the animal identification program a few years ago when all this started. Right now they REQUIRE all farms and even homes that own livestock (even including one or two chickens) to register. You do not have to participate in the ID program (electronic eartags and injectable transponders) YET. Their website states that:
"Livestock," as defined by the WI Premises Registration Act Rules
Includes:
· bovine (bison, cattle)
· equine (horses, donkeys, mules)
· goats
· poultry (chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, guinea fowl, and squab)
· captive game birds (pheasants, quail, wild turkeys, migratory wildfowl, pigeons, and exotic birds,)
· sheep
· swine (other than wild hogs but including pot belly pigs)
· farm raised deer (elk, moose, caribou, reindeer, and the subfamily musk deer)
· camelids (llamas, alpacas)
· ratites (rheas, ostriches, emu, cassowary, kiwi)
· fish (aquaculture farm)
Furthermore, the website says:
"Livestock premises registration means that any location where livestock congregate - family farm, hobby farm, backyard poultry flocks, veterinary clinics, markets, livestock feedlots, livestock dealers and haulers - provides to a central database an address, contact person and list of species. The location gets a unique number."
Does this mean you'd have to report the three chickens you have in the backyard as PETS or that you keep for eggs? YES!
If you want to verify this information or read more, you can visit the Wisconsin Animal Identification website at: http://www.wiid.org/index.php?action=premises_about
Again, currently registration is REQUIRED of all farms, homes, etc. even where these animals are raised as a hobby, but the ID chips are voluntary.
I believe the program in Wisconsin is being done partly to see how it will work on a national scale and to see how well people will comply with the requirements. Once they have all the "bugs worked out," so to speak, I believe this will be a federally mandated program on a national scale.
In the Frequently Asked Questions section, one of the questions seemed especially telling to me:
Q. Can I discontinue participation in NAIS after I register my premises?
A. NAIS continues to be a voluntary program at the Federal level, and has established a procedure for premises registration removal. Because individual States and Tribes are responsible for registering premises, requests for such a removal must be submitted through your State animal health official or State NAIS administrator, who will decide whether to authorize the request.
So even though it's voluntary, once you're registered, they will have to authorize a request not to participate in the future. Hmmm…. So once they have a record of you and your animals, you have lost your options about whether to register or not. That doesn’t sound so voluntary to me.
Let’s keep an eye on this proposed plan to “keep American consumers safe.” While I want to know that my food is not diseased, the best way to do this is to BUY LOCALLY and raise your own food when possible!!
Sonya Haskins
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
Additional Resource: As of June 2009, here are the number of farms already registered in the United States through this currently voluntary program. I think once they reach a percentage greater than 50% overall across the states, I think they'll make this program mandatory.
As a matter of fact, The state of Wisconsin actually implemented the animal identification program a few years ago when all this started. Right now they REQUIRE all farms and even homes that own livestock (even including one or two chickens) to register. You do not have to participate in the ID program (electronic eartags and injectable transponders) YET. Their website states that:
"Livestock," as defined by the WI Premises Registration Act Rules
Includes:
· bovine (bison, cattle)
· equine (horses, donkeys, mules)
· goats
· poultry (chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, guinea fowl, and squab)
· captive game birds (pheasants, quail, wild turkeys, migratory wildfowl, pigeons, and exotic birds,)
· sheep
· swine (other than wild hogs but including pot belly pigs)
· farm raised deer (elk, moose, caribou, reindeer, and the subfamily musk deer)
· camelids (llamas, alpacas)
· ratites (rheas, ostriches, emu, cassowary, kiwi)
· fish (aquaculture farm)
Furthermore, the website says:
"Livestock premises registration means that any location where livestock congregate - family farm, hobby farm, backyard poultry flocks, veterinary clinics, markets, livestock feedlots, livestock dealers and haulers - provides to a central database an address, contact person and list of species. The location gets a unique number."
Does this mean you'd have to report the three chickens you have in the backyard as PETS or that you keep for eggs? YES!
If you want to verify this information or read more, you can visit the Wisconsin Animal Identification website at: http://www.wiid.org/index.php?action=premises_about
Again, currently registration is REQUIRED of all farms, homes, etc. even where these animals are raised as a hobby, but the ID chips are voluntary.
I believe the program in Wisconsin is being done partly to see how it will work on a national scale and to see how well people will comply with the requirements. Once they have all the "bugs worked out," so to speak, I believe this will be a federally mandated program on a national scale.
In the Frequently Asked Questions section, one of the questions seemed especially telling to me:
Q. Can I discontinue participation in NAIS after I register my premises?
A. NAIS continues to be a voluntary program at the Federal level, and has established a procedure for premises registration removal. Because individual States and Tribes are responsible for registering premises, requests for such a removal must be submitted through your State animal health official or State NAIS administrator, who will decide whether to authorize the request.
So even though it's voluntary, once you're registered, they will have to authorize a request not to participate in the future. Hmmm…. So once they have a record of you and your animals, you have lost your options about whether to register or not. That doesn’t sound so voluntary to me.
Let’s keep an eye on this proposed plan to “keep American consumers safe.” While I want to know that my food is not diseased, the best way to do this is to BUY LOCALLY and raise your own food when possible!!
Sonya Haskins
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
Additional Resource: As of June 2009, here are the number of farms already registered in the United States through this currently voluntary program. I think once they reach a percentage greater than 50% overall across the states, I think they'll make this program mandatory.
Obama and Agriculture
In March 2008, The Nation reported that surely Obama was the better choice of candidate for farmers since he obviously supported the best interests of farmers.
You can read the whole article here: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/322762
But here are some quotes from the article:
“By opposing the bill, President Bush and John McCain are saying no to America’s farmers and ranchers, no to energy independence, no to the environment, and no to millions of hungry people,” argued Obama.
“The bill places greater resources into renewable energy and conservation. And, during this time of rising food prices, the farm bill provides an additional $10 billion for critical nutrition programs. I am also pleased that the bill includes my proposal to help thousands of African-American farmers get their discrimination claims reviewed under the Pigford settlement,” said Obama.”
Now you might be wondering, as I was, who these “socially disadvantaged farmers” were. Were these people who lived in third world country-type rural settings like some of the remote areas of Kentucky or Virginia? No.
Here are the descriptions of what it means to be a socially disadvantaged group, farmer or rancher in the U.S. This information is from the U.S. Government’s Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990.
(1) SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUP.–As used in this section, the term “socially disadvantaged group” means a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities.
(2) SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMER OR RANCHER.–As used in this section, the term “socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group.
So in other words, it’s not linked to where you live, your income, or anything else that really has to do with true disadvantage. In this case, they really mean, minority racial or ethnic group. I know some pretty poor farmers in the rural areas of Tennessee, but they wouldn’t qualify for the aid in this farm package because they are of the large group called Caucasians.
According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture),
“Socially disadvantaged (SDA) farmers and ranchers face many challenges. Increased
production costs, lack of economies of scale, and government payments predominantly
delivered to the largest farms serve as significant barriers to success for these farmers.
More than the typical U.S. farm, SDA-operated farms tend to raise livestock and specialty crops such as fruits and vegetables rather than field crops.”
Actually, I don’t think that has anything to do with someone’s race. These issues face ALL SMALL-FARM farmers!!
So why does this even matter? Well, let’s take a look at the advantage of being a SDA. You can get more loans at a lower percentage rate. These farmers qualify for an increased amount of subsidies, help improving the quality of their farm, waivers, additional disaster assistance, technical assistance, representation, and more. These things can be found under titles such as “Increased Payments for Certain Producers” in the 2008 Farm Bill.
How can people not think this stuff is reverse prejudice?
In addition to the money set aside for the Socially Disadvantaged, the Farm Bill also retains subsidies for some of the country’s largest farms and offers no incentive for conservation efforts. In case you’re wondering, a subsidy is paid to “farmers” or landowners who happen to own land that USED to be a farm and there are millions of dollars of subsidies given out each year to “help” these farmers grow their crops even though these “farmers” are under no obligation to grow ANYTHING – nope, not even a family garden.
In September 2008, John Melcher reported in New West Politics that:
“Every president working on a new farm bill has to be comprehensive, knowledgeable and flexible. On this point, McCain is not ready to lead. One-liner quotes do not cut it.
Obama does pass muster as a ready, willing and knowledgeable advocate for both farmers and consumers. Also to his credit, Obama relates with compassion and common sense to using America’s abundant food supplies for the needy here at home and for the hungry abroad.”
Well, it sounds like Obama certainly is an advocate, but not an advocate for everyone. You only qualify for the kind of help many farmers need if you are also in a qualifying minority or ethnic group.
Obama did a great job of making sure everyone thought he was truly going to help them, that he was going to do what he said, and that he was going to make our world a better place.
Just a few short months after he took office, we have seen one example after another where Obama continues to increase the power of the government, the taxation of the American people, and the lack of trust in our administration.
In March 2009, the Corn and Soy Bean Digest reported that:
During last’s week’s address to Congress and the nation, the president proposed sweeping cuts to the farm safety net included in the 2008 Farm Bill. His $3.6 trillion proposed budget called for, among other things: phasing out over a three-year period direct payments to producers with sales revenue of more than $500,000 annually; establishing a $250,000 commodity program payment limit; reducing crop insurance funds by $5.2 billion over 10 years; and cutting Market Access Program funds, which are used by the wheat industry and others to promote sales of U.S. products, by 20%.
You can read the full text here: http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/marketing/0302-Obama-cuts-farm-bill/
You can also see from the cuts mentioned above that cuts include taking away money that would help promote sales of U.S. products and punish farmers with a high revenue, yet it’s almost impossible to be a small farmer with help and the help is going to farmers who qualify for the Socially Disadvantaged program…
Again, we’re heading toward socialism faster than anyone wants to admit. Let’s start putting all the pieces together, people!!
Sonya Haskins
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
You can read the whole article here: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/322762
But here are some quotes from the article:
“By opposing the bill, President Bush and John McCain are saying no to America’s farmers and ranchers, no to energy independence, no to the environment, and no to millions of hungry people,” argued Obama.
“The bill places greater resources into renewable energy and conservation. And, during this time of rising food prices, the farm bill provides an additional $10 billion for critical nutrition programs. I am also pleased that the bill includes my proposal to help thousands of African-American farmers get their discrimination claims reviewed under the Pigford settlement,” said Obama.”
Now you might be wondering, as I was, who these “socially disadvantaged farmers” were. Were these people who lived in third world country-type rural settings like some of the remote areas of Kentucky or Virginia? No.
Here are the descriptions of what it means to be a socially disadvantaged group, farmer or rancher in the U.S. This information is from the U.S. Government’s Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990.
(1) SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUP.–As used in this section, the term “socially disadvantaged group” means a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities.
(2) SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMER OR RANCHER.–As used in this section, the term “socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group.
So in other words, it’s not linked to where you live, your income, or anything else that really has to do with true disadvantage. In this case, they really mean, minority racial or ethnic group. I know some pretty poor farmers in the rural areas of Tennessee, but they wouldn’t qualify for the aid in this farm package because they are of the large group called Caucasians.
According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture),
“Socially disadvantaged (SDA) farmers and ranchers face many challenges. Increased
production costs, lack of economies of scale, and government payments predominantly
delivered to the largest farms serve as significant barriers to success for these farmers.
More than the typical U.S. farm, SDA-operated farms tend to raise livestock and specialty crops such as fruits and vegetables rather than field crops.”
Actually, I don’t think that has anything to do with someone’s race. These issues face ALL SMALL-FARM farmers!!
So why does this even matter? Well, let’s take a look at the advantage of being a SDA. You can get more loans at a lower percentage rate. These farmers qualify for an increased amount of subsidies, help improving the quality of their farm, waivers, additional disaster assistance, technical assistance, representation, and more. These things can be found under titles such as “Increased Payments for Certain Producers” in the 2008 Farm Bill.
How can people not think this stuff is reverse prejudice?
In addition to the money set aside for the Socially Disadvantaged, the Farm Bill also retains subsidies for some of the country’s largest farms and offers no incentive for conservation efforts. In case you’re wondering, a subsidy is paid to “farmers” or landowners who happen to own land that USED to be a farm and there are millions of dollars of subsidies given out each year to “help” these farmers grow their crops even though these “farmers” are under no obligation to grow ANYTHING – nope, not even a family garden.
In September 2008, John Melcher reported in New West Politics that:
“Every president working on a new farm bill has to be comprehensive, knowledgeable and flexible. On this point, McCain is not ready to lead. One-liner quotes do not cut it.
Obama does pass muster as a ready, willing and knowledgeable advocate for both farmers and consumers. Also to his credit, Obama relates with compassion and common sense to using America’s abundant food supplies for the needy here at home and for the hungry abroad.”
Well, it sounds like Obama certainly is an advocate, but not an advocate for everyone. You only qualify for the kind of help many farmers need if you are also in a qualifying minority or ethnic group.
Obama did a great job of making sure everyone thought he was truly going to help them, that he was going to do what he said, and that he was going to make our world a better place.
Just a few short months after he took office, we have seen one example after another where Obama continues to increase the power of the government, the taxation of the American people, and the lack of trust in our administration.
In March 2009, the Corn and Soy Bean Digest reported that:
During last’s week’s address to Congress and the nation, the president proposed sweeping cuts to the farm safety net included in the 2008 Farm Bill. His $3.6 trillion proposed budget called for, among other things: phasing out over a three-year period direct payments to producers with sales revenue of more than $500,000 annually; establishing a $250,000 commodity program payment limit; reducing crop insurance funds by $5.2 billion over 10 years; and cutting Market Access Program funds, which are used by the wheat industry and others to promote sales of U.S. products, by 20%.
You can read the full text here: http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/marketing/0302-Obama-cuts-farm-bill/
You can also see from the cuts mentioned above that cuts include taking away money that would help promote sales of U.S. products and punish farmers with a high revenue, yet it’s almost impossible to be a small farmer with help and the help is going to farmers who qualify for the Socially Disadvantaged program…
Again, we’re heading toward socialism faster than anyone wants to admit. Let’s start putting all the pieces together, people!!
Sonya Haskins
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
Friday, June 19, 2009
Prejudice Against Homeschoolers
As you read the news, if you see any reference to homeschool or kids who are NOT registered with the school system, which is becoming a common slight against homeschoolers, could you please send me a link to the news article? I am so tired of reading about cases where a child is being abused or neglected, but the poor kid was "never registered" with the local school system.
There was a major news story today about a woman who was sexually exploiting her children and broadcasting the video on the Internet. Here is a portion of the story with most of it edited out...
"A day later, Carr was arrested, and her four children — believed to range from 18 months to 5 years old — were taken into protective custody.
...
Town Manager Raymond Mersereau said local officials have no records of Carr, adding that none of her four children had been registered with school officials."
If you want to read the full article, you can find it here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,527247,00.html
I've copied these two sentences for the simple reason of showing the ages of the children and a prominent statement in the article about the fact that the local official states that none of the children were registered with school officials. While this might seem like a simple statement and it might seem like I'm over-reacting, pointing out that a child isn't in school is becoming a common way for people to bring prejudice against homeschoolers. After all, compulsory attendance in Maine is age 7 (SEVEN!). So why would these people even point out the fact that these two and three year old children aren't registered? Even the five-year-old isn't of compulsory attendance age yet.
Anyway, watch out for these little punches against homeschooling. Our society is already largely prejudiced against homeschoolers and they place more stringent requirements on homeschoolers than other educators. When people start making comments that insinuate that parents who are committing horrible crimes against their children are keeping them at home on purpose, it really makes me irritated and I usually send a letter to the news affiliate or reporter. If you see anything like this, please let me know and I'd be happy to write them if you don't want to do so.
Thanks,
Sonya Haskins
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
There was a major news story today about a woman who was sexually exploiting her children and broadcasting the video on the Internet. Here is a portion of the story with most of it edited out...
"A day later, Carr was arrested, and her four children — believed to range from 18 months to 5 years old — were taken into protective custody.
...
Town Manager Raymond Mersereau said local officials have no records of Carr, adding that none of her four children had been registered with school officials."
If you want to read the full article, you can find it here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,527247,00.html
I've copied these two sentences for the simple reason of showing the ages of the children and a prominent statement in the article about the fact that the local official states that none of the children were registered with school officials. While this might seem like a simple statement and it might seem like I'm over-reacting, pointing out that a child isn't in school is becoming a common way for people to bring prejudice against homeschoolers. After all, compulsory attendance in Maine is age 7 (SEVEN!). So why would these people even point out the fact that these two and three year old children aren't registered? Even the five-year-old isn't of compulsory attendance age yet.
Anyway, watch out for these little punches against homeschooling. Our society is already largely prejudiced against homeschoolers and they place more stringent requirements on homeschoolers than other educators. When people start making comments that insinuate that parents who are committing horrible crimes against their children are keeping them at home on purpose, it really makes me irritated and I usually send a letter to the news affiliate or reporter. If you see anything like this, please let me know and I'd be happy to write them if you don't want to do so.
Thanks,
Sonya Haskins
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Rude Liberals
Have you ever noticed how liberals seem to think that it's ok to be rude to conservatives, but it's never acceptable for a conservative to say anything rude or even slightly offensive to a liberal? A slight against a liberal might be something as minimal as disagreeing with their point of view while an offense against conservatives can include examples like David Letterman's punch at Sarah Palin's daughter being "knocked up" in the seventh inning.
Conservatives lose their jobs, receive threats, or experience other backlash when they make comments against liberal mentality, but when a liberal makes fun of conservatives, makes rude comments, or even makes blatant insults against conservatives, they are sometimes heralded as heroes. Forget about losing their jobs or having backlash for their behavior!
Why do conservatives put up with it? Are we so concerned with being nice and polite that we think we should turn the other cheek even when others are attacking our way of life, insulting our children, or telling bold faced lies? Should we behave differently than we are?
I would say absolutely. Being polite is good, but allowing others to completely run over you is ridiculous. And yes, I do realize that Jesus allowed himself to be led to the cross, but he also got MAD in the temple when money changers were misusing his Father's place of worship.
Sonya
Conservatives lose their jobs, receive threats, or experience other backlash when they make comments against liberal mentality, but when a liberal makes fun of conservatives, makes rude comments, or even makes blatant insults against conservatives, they are sometimes heralded as heroes. Forget about losing their jobs or having backlash for their behavior!
Why do conservatives put up with it? Are we so concerned with being nice and polite that we think we should turn the other cheek even when others are attacking our way of life, insulting our children, or telling bold faced lies? Should we behave differently than we are?
I would say absolutely. Being polite is good, but allowing others to completely run over you is ridiculous. And yes, I do realize that Jesus allowed himself to be led to the cross, but he also got MAD in the temple when money changers were misusing his Father's place of worship.
Sonya
Saturday, June 13, 2009
ACORN and the IRS code
What does it mean to be a non-profit, tax exempt organization under the IRS code? According to their website:
To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.
I was thinking today about the whole ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) and Obama thing and how these people were on the news, in communities and elsewhere basically begging people to go out and VOTE for CHANGE, vote for Obama, and vote for a new America.
Apparently, the voter registration activities were handled under the “Project Vote” branch of ACORN and they describe their voter registration program this way:
Since 1982 Project Vote has helped over six million Americans complete applications to register to vote. Working with our field partner, the community organization ACORN, Project Vote in 2007-2008 conducted the largest and most comprehensive voter registration drive in the history of our two organizations, a 21-state community-based operation that succeeded in collecting over 1.3 million voter registration applications. We estimate that the majority of our applicants were from low- to moderate-income families, 60-70 percent were African-American or Latino, and over half were under the age of 30.
Now I don’t know about you, but it seriously looks to me like there is no way that ACORN OR Project Vote can qualify for a 501(c)(3) tax code exemption since they are very OBVIOUSLY “action organizations,” which the tax code says is not allowed. Not only that, but it says that they are not supposed to attempt to influence legislation. If you look at their website, that’s the MAIN purpose of ACORN!!! They actually state which bills to support and which ones you should call your senator or representative and say don’t support. That pretty much sounds like influencing legislation.
I’ve heard a lot of talk about ACORN’s illegal activities, but seriously people. Someone would have to be blind not to see this stuff! And yet there they are, still doing what they’ve been doing.
Hmmmm.
To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.
I was thinking today about the whole ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) and Obama thing and how these people were on the news, in communities and elsewhere basically begging people to go out and VOTE for CHANGE, vote for Obama, and vote for a new America.
Apparently, the voter registration activities were handled under the “Project Vote” branch of ACORN and they describe their voter registration program this way:
Since 1982 Project Vote has helped over six million Americans complete applications to register to vote. Working with our field partner, the community organization ACORN, Project Vote in 2007-2008 conducted the largest and most comprehensive voter registration drive in the history of our two organizations, a 21-state community-based operation that succeeded in collecting over 1.3 million voter registration applications. We estimate that the majority of our applicants were from low- to moderate-income families, 60-70 percent were African-American or Latino, and over half were under the age of 30.
Now I don’t know about you, but it seriously looks to me like there is no way that ACORN OR Project Vote can qualify for a 501(c)(3) tax code exemption since they are very OBVIOUSLY “action organizations,” which the tax code says is not allowed. Not only that, but it says that they are not supposed to attempt to influence legislation. If you look at their website, that’s the MAIN purpose of ACORN!!! They actually state which bills to support and which ones you should call your senator or representative and say don’t support. That pretty much sounds like influencing legislation.
I’ve heard a lot of talk about ACORN’s illegal activities, but seriously people. Someone would have to be blind not to see this stuff! And yet there they are, still doing what they’ve been doing.
Hmmmm.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Influenza Pandemic Declared
Toward the end of April, I posted an entry about the H1N1 influenza virus. Basically I discussed the history of other major flu epidemics and how this flu was eerily similar to the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918. You can read the complete entry here, but since the World Health Organization has now (as of yesterday) officially declared a pandemic of the virus, I thought I’d point out a few of the things that people AREN’T paying attention to that they should.
Think about this for a minute… At the beginning of April, you couldn’t turn on the news without hearing about this new flu strain. Then, after a couple of weeks, there was NOTHING on the news about this. Ask yourself why. It was a horrible new flu strain and it was all over the news and suddenly nothing? Is this because it stopped spreading? No. Is it because there were fewer deaths? No. Fewer verified cases? No.
I meet and talk with a lot of different people, including professionals in different fields and the buzz I’m hearing in the medical community is that the CDC is preparing for a major epidemic of this flu. They are actually limiting the number of face masks hospitals and other medical facilities can purchase. These are being rationed. Military personnel and medical personnel are being measured for protective devices. Tamiflu is being heavily guarded. Is the media sharing these stories??? No.
What about the spread of the virus around the world? Yes, it is spreading. There are over 70 countries affected now and the virus seems to be gaining strength as the human to human transmission increases. Viruses are smart little critters. They know that if they are to survive, they must find a way to stay alive. In order to stay alive, they have to find a host and they have to mutate. That’s exactly what they’re doing.
In April, there were like 100 confirmed cases of the flu in the United States and it was all over the news. Today there are over 17,000, yet the fact that the WHO (World Health Organization) called this a pandemic yesterday (the first pandemic declared in over 40 years) barely warranted a mention in the news.
If people were smart, they’d be stocking up NOW. Go to the store and buy supplies that you would normally have on hand to deal with an episode of the flu or severe cold symptoms – cough medicine, antihistamine, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, etc. Don’t wait until everyone is sick because then you’re simply exposing yourself to more germs. The shelves have been largely sold out of hand sanitizer, bleach, and other supplies that are linked to disinfecting during an epidemic of illness. Why in the world would these things be sold out at the beginning of summer?!? This isn’t a season for sickness! The reason is because there are some other smart folks out there who are also preparing for the worst.
Now what if this is one of those “the sky is falling” scenarios? Well, the fact is that if you’re stocked up and have your cleaning supplies, medicine, and extra food on hand so that you don’t need to go to the store for several days at a time (a week or more is even better) during the worst of it, then you might end up with a little extra supplies on your shelves. If you don’t stock up and everyone gets sick with the flu, then you’ll have to figure out a way to get the things you need. It will be more difficult if everyone goes to try to purchase these things at the same time. If the pandemic gets really bad, as it did in 1918, then you could have an even worse problem since transportation and delivery processes could break down, meaning that you won’t even have access to medicine and possibly food. Could it really get that bad? Yes. We are so reliant on the government, having others supply our needs, and waiting for someone else to give us what we need/want, that we’ve forgotten how to take care of ourselves, how to plan ahead, how to prepare for disaster and simply be happy if it doesn’t happen.
THAT is what the media is not telling us. It really could get so bad that our own reliance on others could make things ten times worse. They won’t tell you this because that would mean that they would have to say, “Get up! Do something about this now! Prepare ahead!”
If you haven’t prepared, that’s ok. I don’t say these things to make you feel guilty. I am simply suggesting that you may want to take some steps toward making sure you are prepared in the event that the flu comes back around full force this fall/winter. I care about my friends and hope that you will take this seriously.
If I’m wrong, then it’s simply a poke at my pride and you have some extra medicine and food on your shelves.
If I’m right, then it might save your life – or that of your children. If it gets as bad as I think it might this coming fall/winter, then they’ll probably close schools, government offices, businesses, etc. much like they did in Mexico in April to contain the outbreak. If I can do something to help you prepare for that possibility and the ensuing panic and keep you and your family safe at home with what you need, then it’s worth the possibility that I might also be wrong.
Sonya
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
Think about this for a minute… At the beginning of April, you couldn’t turn on the news without hearing about this new flu strain. Then, after a couple of weeks, there was NOTHING on the news about this. Ask yourself why. It was a horrible new flu strain and it was all over the news and suddenly nothing? Is this because it stopped spreading? No. Is it because there were fewer deaths? No. Fewer verified cases? No.
I meet and talk with a lot of different people, including professionals in different fields and the buzz I’m hearing in the medical community is that the CDC is preparing for a major epidemic of this flu. They are actually limiting the number of face masks hospitals and other medical facilities can purchase. These are being rationed. Military personnel and medical personnel are being measured for protective devices. Tamiflu is being heavily guarded. Is the media sharing these stories??? No.
What about the spread of the virus around the world? Yes, it is spreading. There are over 70 countries affected now and the virus seems to be gaining strength as the human to human transmission increases. Viruses are smart little critters. They know that if they are to survive, they must find a way to stay alive. In order to stay alive, they have to find a host and they have to mutate. That’s exactly what they’re doing.
In April, there were like 100 confirmed cases of the flu in the United States and it was all over the news. Today there are over 17,000, yet the fact that the WHO (World Health Organization) called this a pandemic yesterday (the first pandemic declared in over 40 years) barely warranted a mention in the news.
If people were smart, they’d be stocking up NOW. Go to the store and buy supplies that you would normally have on hand to deal with an episode of the flu or severe cold symptoms – cough medicine, antihistamine, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, etc. Don’t wait until everyone is sick because then you’re simply exposing yourself to more germs. The shelves have been largely sold out of hand sanitizer, bleach, and other supplies that are linked to disinfecting during an epidemic of illness. Why in the world would these things be sold out at the beginning of summer?!? This isn’t a season for sickness! The reason is because there are some other smart folks out there who are also preparing for the worst.
Now what if this is one of those “the sky is falling” scenarios? Well, the fact is that if you’re stocked up and have your cleaning supplies, medicine, and extra food on hand so that you don’t need to go to the store for several days at a time (a week or more is even better) during the worst of it, then you might end up with a little extra supplies on your shelves. If you don’t stock up and everyone gets sick with the flu, then you’ll have to figure out a way to get the things you need. It will be more difficult if everyone goes to try to purchase these things at the same time. If the pandemic gets really bad, as it did in 1918, then you could have an even worse problem since transportation and delivery processes could break down, meaning that you won’t even have access to medicine and possibly food. Could it really get that bad? Yes. We are so reliant on the government, having others supply our needs, and waiting for someone else to give us what we need/want, that we’ve forgotten how to take care of ourselves, how to plan ahead, how to prepare for disaster and simply be happy if it doesn’t happen.
THAT is what the media is not telling us. It really could get so bad that our own reliance on others could make things ten times worse. They won’t tell you this because that would mean that they would have to say, “Get up! Do something about this now! Prepare ahead!”
If you haven’t prepared, that’s ok. I don’t say these things to make you feel guilty. I am simply suggesting that you may want to take some steps toward making sure you are prepared in the event that the flu comes back around full force this fall/winter. I care about my friends and hope that you will take this seriously.
If I’m wrong, then it’s simply a poke at my pride and you have some extra medicine and food on your shelves.
If I’m right, then it might save your life – or that of your children. If it gets as bad as I think it might this coming fall/winter, then they’ll probably close schools, government offices, businesses, etc. much like they did in Mexico in April to contain the outbreak. If I can do something to help you prepare for that possibility and the ensuing panic and keep you and your family safe at home with what you need, then it’s worth the possibility that I might also be wrong.
Sonya
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
On Being a Mutt
As I was surfing the Internet today, I came across a site that advertised jobs for African Americans. I thought, "Hmmm, are these jobs seriously for African Americans?"
What about equal opportunity employment? What if I wanted to apply for one of those jobs? I'm not "black," so would I not qualify?
I started thinking about this and typed in "African American Association" and there were over 47 MILLION results. As a matter of fact, I literally found millions of clubs and associations devoted to African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, etc., but I honestly couldn't find ONE club or association devoted to plain white people. I did find several articles where things like this had been attempted, but they had quickly been squashed by the ACLU or other such agencies!
Since I have a mixed heritage of German, Native American, Irish and a few other things I'm not sure of, I'm simply a "mutt." I'm of mixed heritage, but I can't celebrate any of them. After all, I'm not Native American enough to prove it. I have a huge nose reminiscent of my Cherokee Indian great-great-great-grandmother who managed to hide in the Tennessee mountains during the Trail of Tears, but there are no birth records to show that I have Cherokee Indian in me. After all, who would have known back then that we would need to "prove" our heritage in order to prevent racial discrimination by qualifying for special privileges simply because we belong to a particular race...
During my browsing, I did find several articles that addressed a situation in California a few years ago when a 15-year-old tried to start a "Caucasian Club" to celebrate her heritage. There were already Hispanic clubs, African American clubs, and Asian clubs at her high school and this brave young woman decided to assert her fundamental right to be proud of her own heritage, but the ACLU became involved and lambasted the girl for her audacity at trying to create such a racially insensitive organization. So it's insensitive to create a "Caucasian Club," but it's not insensitive to create an "African American Club"? I don't understand the difference.
Now before anyone starts accusing me of being a racist, I would have the same response I have when people say that I'm against public school. NO, I'm not. I am TOTALLY in support of parental rights. Parents have the right to make decisions for their children, whether that's in regards to medical decisions, discipline issues, where to attend school, or whatever it might be. As for being racist, anyone in our society would be color blind if they didn't notice the prejudices being placed on our citizens today and I am NOT talking about prejudice against African Americans or any other minority. I'm talking about prejudice against anyone who dares to speak out against the left-wing liberals in our country who are taking away our rights in the name of "tolerance."
I was discussing this with my friend yesterday while we were having lunch. Before she arrived, I overheard a discussion going on behind me between two attorneys. No, I wasn't trying to listen, but sometimes you just hear a conversation and when you're sitting two feet away, it's difficult not to hear. They were discussing the fact that they've seen a HUGE increase in the number of discrimination suits that have been filed since Obama became president. There were cases of people (mostly African Americans according to the attorney, but some Hispanics) coming in two or three hours late to work, not showing up at all for work, or doing poor jobs and when a supervisor tries to say something about it, they are being slapped with a discrimination lawsuit. He said that in one instance, a lady had been late for about ten days in a row and finally one day she came in two hours late and the supervisor (a white male) asked her, "Why are you so late?" and the NEXT DAY this lady came in to work with an ACLU representative who brought paperwork for a lawsuit. His friend is currently handling the suit and I heard these attorneys discussing the fact that they almost can't even go to court on these issues any more because there is so much prejudice AGAINST anyone who would dare to tell this woman and others of a minority background that they have to follow the rules.
After the attorneys left, I relayed the story to my friend. I commented about how sad things like this are and how we need to teach everyone - regardless of color, sex, handicap, or whatever - that there are rules that must be followed and if you break the rules, there are consequences. This is one of the big things I want to teach my children through homeschooling and I'm sure those of you who don't homeschool would agree that this is something you want to teach your children as well! She said, "You know, what's sad is that I've known you for almost fifteen years and I've NEVER known of you to be a prejudice person or someone who would say something bad about anyone because of their race, but lately I've noticed that you have made comments that you're noticing discrimination. The population IS changing, you know."
It's important to note that my friend is an admitted racist and I've frequently defended the fact that people can have a Biblically-based inter-racial marriage and other such issues throughout the years. She KNOWS I love people just for the fact that they are people and I don't look at skin color, but lately things have been different because there are people in our society who are making such a huge issue of race that many African Americans have even made the comment that our newly elected president would pay their bills for them now because they have been oppressed and poor for so long. What?!? I know people who have lived in Africa and other third world countries and have given up lives of luxury just to help the people who lived there. I know WHITE people in America who are just as poor as BLACK people and I'll admit that many of them have their hands stuck out as well, but they don't say they'll receive help just because of the color of their skin!
Anyway, my friend's comments startled me, but I realize that I have been thinking about this issue more because it has BECOME more of an issue!
I have always loved everyone of any color because all of us are God's children. We were created in the image of GOD - every one of us. It don't care if you're black, blue, red, white or purple, God created us all and he sent his son to die on the cross for us. To me, that's the main thing in life and I try to instill in our children a love for everyone, regardless of education level, economic status, race, or any other factor. It simply doesn't matter.
We have many friends who have adopted children. We want to adopt. We don't care what color the child is, but I can guarantee you that if a child of African heritage were placed in our home, we would spank that child when he or she did something wrong just like we spanked our other children when they were little. I wouldn't say, "You know, I shouldn't punish you because you are black." If my children were in the yard playing Cowboys and Indians, I don't run out and say, "Hey children, that's politically incorrect. You're supposed to play Cowboys and Native Americans... And by the way, it wasn't fair that we took their land so make sure the Native Americans win." No. I would say, be nice, play fairly, make sure everyone has a turn, and come in when you want a snack.
We can't undo the past, but we certainly don't want to limit freedoms so that it forces us to repeat the past in another manner, in other words, the oppression of an alternate group of people (Caucasians, Conservative Christians, homeschoolers, etc.). That's exactly what I see happening and I'm doing my part by encouraging pride in our Mutt heritage, freedom of expression, and discrimination against NO ONE in our house. Perhaps it will catch on and adults who are supposed to be protecting the freedoms in our country will learn to play nicely as well.
Sonya
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
P.S. Just so that no one will get the wrong idea, I am positively opposed to white supremacist ideology and other organizations devoted to this cause, but I do think it's pretty ridiculous that people like Obama's Reverend White can rant and rave against those "white people," but yet people who make a comment against black people are charged with a hate crime. Personally, I think they're all wrong. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves and that means ALL your neighbors!
What about equal opportunity employment? What if I wanted to apply for one of those jobs? I'm not "black," so would I not qualify?
I started thinking about this and typed in "African American Association" and there were over 47 MILLION results. As a matter of fact, I literally found millions of clubs and associations devoted to African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, etc., but I honestly couldn't find ONE club or association devoted to plain white people. I did find several articles where things like this had been attempted, but they had quickly been squashed by the ACLU or other such agencies!
Since I have a mixed heritage of German, Native American, Irish and a few other things I'm not sure of, I'm simply a "mutt." I'm of mixed heritage, but I can't celebrate any of them. After all, I'm not Native American enough to prove it. I have a huge nose reminiscent of my Cherokee Indian great-great-great-grandmother who managed to hide in the Tennessee mountains during the Trail of Tears, but there are no birth records to show that I have Cherokee Indian in me. After all, who would have known back then that we would need to "prove" our heritage in order to prevent racial discrimination by qualifying for special privileges simply because we belong to a particular race...
During my browsing, I did find several articles that addressed a situation in California a few years ago when a 15-year-old tried to start a "Caucasian Club" to celebrate her heritage. There were already Hispanic clubs, African American clubs, and Asian clubs at her high school and this brave young woman decided to assert her fundamental right to be proud of her own heritage, but the ACLU became involved and lambasted the girl for her audacity at trying to create such a racially insensitive organization. So it's insensitive to create a "Caucasian Club," but it's not insensitive to create an "African American Club"? I don't understand the difference.
Now before anyone starts accusing me of being a racist, I would have the same response I have when people say that I'm against public school. NO, I'm not. I am TOTALLY in support of parental rights. Parents have the right to make decisions for their children, whether that's in regards to medical decisions, discipline issues, where to attend school, or whatever it might be. As for being racist, anyone in our society would be color blind if they didn't notice the prejudices being placed on our citizens today and I am NOT talking about prejudice against African Americans or any other minority. I'm talking about prejudice against anyone who dares to speak out against the left-wing liberals in our country who are taking away our rights in the name of "tolerance."
I was discussing this with my friend yesterday while we were having lunch. Before she arrived, I overheard a discussion going on behind me between two attorneys. No, I wasn't trying to listen, but sometimes you just hear a conversation and when you're sitting two feet away, it's difficult not to hear. They were discussing the fact that they've seen a HUGE increase in the number of discrimination suits that have been filed since Obama became president. There were cases of people (mostly African Americans according to the attorney, but some Hispanics) coming in two or three hours late to work, not showing up at all for work, or doing poor jobs and when a supervisor tries to say something about it, they are being slapped with a discrimination lawsuit. He said that in one instance, a lady had been late for about ten days in a row and finally one day she came in two hours late and the supervisor (a white male) asked her, "Why are you so late?" and the NEXT DAY this lady came in to work with an ACLU representative who brought paperwork for a lawsuit. His friend is currently handling the suit and I heard these attorneys discussing the fact that they almost can't even go to court on these issues any more because there is so much prejudice AGAINST anyone who would dare to tell this woman and others of a minority background that they have to follow the rules.
After the attorneys left, I relayed the story to my friend. I commented about how sad things like this are and how we need to teach everyone - regardless of color, sex, handicap, or whatever - that there are rules that must be followed and if you break the rules, there are consequences. This is one of the big things I want to teach my children through homeschooling and I'm sure those of you who don't homeschool would agree that this is something you want to teach your children as well! She said, "You know, what's sad is that I've known you for almost fifteen years and I've NEVER known of you to be a prejudice person or someone who would say something bad about anyone because of their race, but lately I've noticed that you have made comments that you're noticing discrimination. The population IS changing, you know."
It's important to note that my friend is an admitted racist and I've frequently defended the fact that people can have a Biblically-based inter-racial marriage and other such issues throughout the years. She KNOWS I love people just for the fact that they are people and I don't look at skin color, but lately things have been different because there are people in our society who are making such a huge issue of race that many African Americans have even made the comment that our newly elected president would pay their bills for them now because they have been oppressed and poor for so long. What?!? I know people who have lived in Africa and other third world countries and have given up lives of luxury just to help the people who lived there. I know WHITE people in America who are just as poor as BLACK people and I'll admit that many of them have their hands stuck out as well, but they don't say they'll receive help just because of the color of their skin!
Anyway, my friend's comments startled me, but I realize that I have been thinking about this issue more because it has BECOME more of an issue!
I have always loved everyone of any color because all of us are God's children. We were created in the image of GOD - every one of us. It don't care if you're black, blue, red, white or purple, God created us all and he sent his son to die on the cross for us. To me, that's the main thing in life and I try to instill in our children a love for everyone, regardless of education level, economic status, race, or any other factor. It simply doesn't matter.
We have many friends who have adopted children. We want to adopt. We don't care what color the child is, but I can guarantee you that if a child of African heritage were placed in our home, we would spank that child when he or she did something wrong just like we spanked our other children when they were little. I wouldn't say, "You know, I shouldn't punish you because you are black." If my children were in the yard playing Cowboys and Indians, I don't run out and say, "Hey children, that's politically incorrect. You're supposed to play Cowboys and Native Americans... And by the way, it wasn't fair that we took their land so make sure the Native Americans win." No. I would say, be nice, play fairly, make sure everyone has a turn, and come in when you want a snack.
We can't undo the past, but we certainly don't want to limit freedoms so that it forces us to repeat the past in another manner, in other words, the oppression of an alternate group of people (Caucasians, Conservative Christians, homeschoolers, etc.). That's exactly what I see happening and I'm doing my part by encouraging pride in our Mutt heritage, freedom of expression, and discrimination against NO ONE in our house. Perhaps it will catch on and adults who are supposed to be protecting the freedoms in our country will learn to play nicely as well.
Sonya
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
P.S. Just so that no one will get the wrong idea, I am positively opposed to white supremacist ideology and other organizations devoted to this cause, but I do think it's pretty ridiculous that people like Obama's Reverend White can rant and rave against those "white people," but yet people who make a comment against black people are charged with a hate crime. Personally, I think they're all wrong. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves and that means ALL your neighbors!
Buy your own toilet paper!
When I'm working on a new book, I usually go to town and work at a few local restaurants where I can sit at a table for several hours. The managers don't mind and I tip the waitresses really well so it works out for everyone.
I'm editing my new book right now and lately I've noticed that the bathrooms always seem to be out of toilet paper. I will go in the bathroom to do my thing and realize that there's no toilet paper in the stall so I have to walk back out of the bathroom, find the manager or someone else who can get the toilet paper, and then go back in the bathroom.
Today I asked one of the managers why the restaurants always seemed to be out of toilet paper lately. He said they were having to keep it behind the counter lately because if there was a roll of toilet paper in the bathroom, women would stick them down in their purses and take them!!! Other managers have given me similar reasons for taking the sweetners, salt and pepper shakers, and sauces off the tables.
Come on people! Are we really that desperate?!? Of course I don't know that anyone perpetrating these hideous acts would actually be bothering to read my blog, but if you are, please leave the toilet paper alone! I don't use sweetners, salt or pepper or sauces, but if I did, I would be making the same plea for those items. As it is, though, everyone (I think!) uses toilet paper and I'm sure all the other restaurant patrons would appreciate it if they didn't have to humiliate themselves each time they want to go to the bathroom by requesting a piece of toilet paper just to go do their duty. Get a life! Buy your own toilet paper!
Sonya
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
I'm editing my new book right now and lately I've noticed that the bathrooms always seem to be out of toilet paper. I will go in the bathroom to do my thing and realize that there's no toilet paper in the stall so I have to walk back out of the bathroom, find the manager or someone else who can get the toilet paper, and then go back in the bathroom.
Today I asked one of the managers why the restaurants always seemed to be out of toilet paper lately. He said they were having to keep it behind the counter lately because if there was a roll of toilet paper in the bathroom, women would stick them down in their purses and take them!!! Other managers have given me similar reasons for taking the sweetners, salt and pepper shakers, and sauces off the tables.
Come on people! Are we really that desperate?!? Of course I don't know that anyone perpetrating these hideous acts would actually be bothering to read my blog, but if you are, please leave the toilet paper alone! I don't use sweetners, salt or pepper or sauces, but if I did, I would be making the same plea for those items. As it is, though, everyone (I think!) uses toilet paper and I'm sure all the other restaurant patrons would appreciate it if they didn't have to humiliate themselves each time they want to go to the bathroom by requesting a piece of toilet paper just to go do their duty. Get a life! Buy your own toilet paper!
Sonya
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
What to do if it's lightning...
According to the government's weather website, lightning has killed an average of 58 people per year for the past 30 years.
This is higher than deaths caused per year by tornadoes or hurricanes, but we don't hear a lot about lightning deaths because they normally occur one or two deaths at a time.
Have you ever thought about how lightning is a lot like Satan? Sometimes you can hear the thunder and you think you might want to be a little careful, but other times, lightening can strike without warning. We would all be wise to consider how Satan acts in a similar manner. He can strike in all sorts of environments, sometimes without previous warning and sometimes you sort of know that there is a storm brewing...
So what's a person to do?
- Watch for dangerous weather conditions. When it appears that dangerous weather is approaching, do not plan outdoor activities and keep an eye on the weather. Similarly, do not enter environments that you already know are going to be temptuous. Flee from sin just as you would flee bad weather.
- Seek safe shelter for yourself and your loved ones. Protect yourself. During a thunderstorm, lightning can strike many miles from the original source of the storm. If you are involved in questionable activities, it gradually becomes easier to sin so set your boundaries, establish your safe place and keep high standards.
- Go inside when you first hear thunder. If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance of lightning so seek shelter immediately. Do not wait until it's too late! Satan likes to convince us that what we're doing isn't soooo bad or that there is a good reason we're doing it. There are many ways we can convince ourselves that sin isn't sin, but it is and it's very dangerous. Don't fall into the trap of justifying sinful behavior. Recognize it for what it is, confess your transgressions, and stay out of the danger zone in the future.
- Offer assistance if you see someone else struck by lightning. When someone is struck by lightning, they will need immediate medical attention. Frequently they die of cardiac arrest before someone can assist them. If you are near when someone is struck by lightning, call 911 and offer assistance. Try to get the victim to a safe location if possible so that you will not be in danger of being struck by lightning yourself. This same advice would be wise counsel if you're trying to help someone who is living a sinful lifestyle. Offer help. Pray for them. Assist them in any way you can, but be careful to protect yourself in the process. While I was in college, I hung out with the "bad kids," thinking I would minister to them, but I quickly became engrossed in their poor choices - cheating, skipping class, alcohol, pot, etc. because I was not "lightning proof." No one is. Offer help to others, but do so with the support of others and make sure you always remember that lightning - in all its forms - is dangerous.
Sonya : )
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
This is higher than deaths caused per year by tornadoes or hurricanes, but we don't hear a lot about lightning deaths because they normally occur one or two deaths at a time.
Have you ever thought about how lightning is a lot like Satan? Sometimes you can hear the thunder and you think you might want to be a little careful, but other times, lightening can strike without warning. We would all be wise to consider how Satan acts in a similar manner. He can strike in all sorts of environments, sometimes without previous warning and sometimes you sort of know that there is a storm brewing...
So what's a person to do?
- Watch for dangerous weather conditions. When it appears that dangerous weather is approaching, do not plan outdoor activities and keep an eye on the weather. Similarly, do not enter environments that you already know are going to be temptuous. Flee from sin just as you would flee bad weather.
- Seek safe shelter for yourself and your loved ones. Protect yourself. During a thunderstorm, lightning can strike many miles from the original source of the storm. If you are involved in questionable activities, it gradually becomes easier to sin so set your boundaries, establish your safe place and keep high standards.
- Go inside when you first hear thunder. If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance of lightning so seek shelter immediately. Do not wait until it's too late! Satan likes to convince us that what we're doing isn't soooo bad or that there is a good reason we're doing it. There are many ways we can convince ourselves that sin isn't sin, but it is and it's very dangerous. Don't fall into the trap of justifying sinful behavior. Recognize it for what it is, confess your transgressions, and stay out of the danger zone in the future.
- Offer assistance if you see someone else struck by lightning. When someone is struck by lightning, they will need immediate medical attention. Frequently they die of cardiac arrest before someone can assist them. If you are near when someone is struck by lightning, call 911 and offer assistance. Try to get the victim to a safe location if possible so that you will not be in danger of being struck by lightning yourself. This same advice would be wise counsel if you're trying to help someone who is living a sinful lifestyle. Offer help. Pray for them. Assist them in any way you can, but be careful to protect yourself in the process. While I was in college, I hung out with the "bad kids," thinking I would minister to them, but I quickly became engrossed in their poor choices - cheating, skipping class, alcohol, pot, etc. because I was not "lightning proof." No one is. Offer help to others, but do so with the support of others and make sure you always remember that lightning - in all its forms - is dangerous.
Sonya : )
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
The Toothbrush Purchase
I went to buy some new toothbrushes yesterday and couldn't find a single toothbrush that wasn't made in China! Since so many products from China have been recalled due to lead content or other problems, I was standing there mentally calculating whether or not it was safe to purchase these imported toothbrushes. I guess I stood there too long since one of the cashiers actually came into the aisle to make sure I wasn't sticking something in my pocketbook.
I finally decided to take a chance on lead poisoning and I purchased a cheap five pack. I could have bought a better brand and paid ten times as much, but I figured since they're all made in China anyway, it doesn't really matter if I get lead poisoning from a 20 cent toothbrush or a $2.00 toothbrush.
This morning I was using one of my new toothbrushes and noticed that our toothpaste was also imported!
Do you remember that old game "The Price is Right"? That's the one where people have to guess the prices of items. You might have to tell how much a bottle of Mayfield milk costs or a large bag of bite size Snickers bars. I was thinking this morning how we could create a new game show where people have to guess which country products were made in.
The only problem is that the show wouldn't last very long since the answer would almost always be "Made in China," "Made in China," "Made in China...."
Sonya
I finally decided to take a chance on lead poisoning and I purchased a cheap five pack. I could have bought a better brand and paid ten times as much, but I figured since they're all made in China anyway, it doesn't really matter if I get lead poisoning from a 20 cent toothbrush or a $2.00 toothbrush.
This morning I was using one of my new toothbrushes and noticed that our toothpaste was also imported!
Do you remember that old game "The Price is Right"? That's the one where people have to guess the prices of items. You might have to tell how much a bottle of Mayfield milk costs or a large bag of bite size Snickers bars. I was thinking this morning how we could create a new game show where people have to guess which country products were made in.
The only problem is that the show wouldn't last very long since the answer would almost always be "Made in China," "Made in China," "Made in China...."
Sonya
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Gun Control / Holocaust Museum Incident
I've been sitting at one of my favorite writing spots today and I saw a news flash earlier about the incident at the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC earlier this afternoon. While I was watching the episode unfold, four diners entered the deli and sat at the table next to me. They asked what had happened and I told them what I had seen thus far. One of the ladies commented that it's so tragic that we have such "lax" gun laws and when we allow common citizens to have guns, this is what happens.
You'd all be very proud of me, but I didn't even respond to her! I didn't say, "Well, ya know, common citizens DO have a right to protect themselves."
I also didn't say, "Despite the fact that you're driving a BMW (she was) and wearing $200 shoes, you obviously didn't get your money's worth of education since you apparently didn't learn that it's our constitutional right to bear arms."
Nope. I didn't say any of that. What I did do was call one of my friends and tell them to go ahead and pick up that $200 handgun Chris and I have been considering. While I've never really liked the idea of having guns in the vicinity of children, I DO believe it's important to train them in the proper use and handling of guns. This would obviously include instruction about how guns should only be used for hunting, defense of one's family or self, or pleasure (such as target shooting at the range). I want to go ahead and get this in the works before someone snatches away my right to purchase a gun!
Guns aren't the problem. Gun control will not stop tragic events. Criminals and misled people will continue to obtain weapons of all sorts. Even if they weren't able to obtain guns, they would find another way to carry out their evil deeds.
When good, law-abiding people are not allowed to exercise their RIGHT to bear arms, THEN we will have a much worse problem in our society because the average citizen will no longer have any ability to defend himself against tyranny, criminal acts, or oppression.
I just saw on Fox News that they have identified the shooter as James Von Brunn. He is apparently a white supremacist who has written many racially-motivated articles that are available all over the Internet. Unfortunately, from what I've read, most of his writings are full of paranoia, lies, and anti-semitic rhetoric. It's very sad that people can be so full of hate. Gun control is not going to stop sin in the world. It's not going to take away hate. There is only one thing that can truly do that and it's a relationship with Jesus Christ.
I've already been reading that some people are questioning security and such at the museum, but in my opinion, it sounds like it worked just the way it was supposed to. The security guards responded with force (lethal force???) to a valid threat to the visitors. I am so sorry to hear that the guard who was wounded has now died. Rather than questioning the security procedures, however, we all need to be thanking him and the other guards who put their own lives on the line to protect the safety of the museum visitors. It's a reminder of the many soldiers, guards, and officers across the United States and abroad who put their lives on the line on a daily basis.
Sonya
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
You'd all be very proud of me, but I didn't even respond to her! I didn't say, "Well, ya know, common citizens DO have a right to protect themselves."
I also didn't say, "Despite the fact that you're driving a BMW (she was) and wearing $200 shoes, you obviously didn't get your money's worth of education since you apparently didn't learn that it's our constitutional right to bear arms."
Nope. I didn't say any of that. What I did do was call one of my friends and tell them to go ahead and pick up that $200 handgun Chris and I have been considering. While I've never really liked the idea of having guns in the vicinity of children, I DO believe it's important to train them in the proper use and handling of guns. This would obviously include instruction about how guns should only be used for hunting, defense of one's family or self, or pleasure (such as target shooting at the range). I want to go ahead and get this in the works before someone snatches away my right to purchase a gun!
Guns aren't the problem. Gun control will not stop tragic events. Criminals and misled people will continue to obtain weapons of all sorts. Even if they weren't able to obtain guns, they would find another way to carry out their evil deeds.
When good, law-abiding people are not allowed to exercise their RIGHT to bear arms, THEN we will have a much worse problem in our society because the average citizen will no longer have any ability to defend himself against tyranny, criminal acts, or oppression.
I just saw on Fox News that they have identified the shooter as James Von Brunn. He is apparently a white supremacist who has written many racially-motivated articles that are available all over the Internet. Unfortunately, from what I've read, most of his writings are full of paranoia, lies, and anti-semitic rhetoric. It's very sad that people can be so full of hate. Gun control is not going to stop sin in the world. It's not going to take away hate. There is only one thing that can truly do that and it's a relationship with Jesus Christ.
I've already been reading that some people are questioning security and such at the museum, but in my opinion, it sounds like it worked just the way it was supposed to. The security guards responded with force (lethal force???) to a valid threat to the visitors. I am so sorry to hear that the guard who was wounded has now died. Rather than questioning the security procedures, however, we all need to be thanking him and the other guards who put their own lives on the line to protect the safety of the museum visitors. It's a reminder of the many soldiers, guards, and officers across the United States and abroad who put their lives on the line on a daily basis.
Sonya
www.thehomeschooladvocate.com
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Osama / Usama / Obama
Ok, I haven't written in a while and I don't really have time to write a lot tonight, but I am so irritated at seeing how the media is so willingly changing wording and viewpoints to ensure that all the little sheep in our society blindly continue to follow the ignorant masses.
Before the election, discussions about Obama's religion were all concentrated on the fact that he was a member of a "Christian" church. Now granted, it was a Christian church with a WHOLE lot of problems, including black racial supremacy, racial prejudice against "white people," and basically a calling for every white person to pay back the poor supressed black peoples who lived in slavery for two hundred years. Well, I'm sorry, but my husband and I, my parents, my grandparents, my great-grandparents, and I seriously doubt that my great-great-great-great grandparents would have ever had the money to own slaves even if we did think it was ethical, which we didn't! There were many "white people" who actually helped bring about the freedom of black persons so I'm about tired of all the focus being on "black" or "white." These people who are doing the complaining weren't even slaves and it's highly doubtful that even their grandparents were. Now if you go back to 1865, yes, their great-grandparents probably were and I'm so sorry for that, but not because I did it or because my parents did it, but simply because I'm sorry to know that anyone has been oppressed at any point in time. I hate to say it, but lately I have to say that I'm feeling a bit oppressed myself. Does this entitle me to anything? No. Does anyone owe me an apology? No. Do we live in a sinful world where we should all work harder to love our neighbors as ourselves? Absolutely!
Another thing that's bugging me is that in 2001, there was much talk about Osama Bin Laden. EVERYONE spelled his name with an "O" and perhaps the accurate spelling should have a "U" and since I'm all for accuracy, it's great that we would correct that, but it seems strange to me that even as of last summer, when I saw reports of Osama Bin Laden, his name was STILL spelled with an "O"!!! We didn't change this until after the election of a president who could very well himself be a "Bin Laden" in disguise since suddenly his "Christianity" means nothing. He has resigned his membership from his Christian church and although the fact that he was raised a Muslim was seriously downplayed during the campaign, you hear about it almost EVERY day now from Obama's mouth. He wants to make sure that the world - including the American people - know that he was - AND IS - a MUSLIM! Yes, he understands them. Yes, he sympathizes with them. Yes, he likes them and continues to apologize them for all our "wrongs," but what about all we have done right? Did his Muslim training forget to include all the times American soldiers - Christian or otherwise - laid down their lives to save the lives of MUSLIMS?
But anyway, doesn't anyone else think it's strange that suddenly every news outlet in America is using the "U" for Osama instead of the "O"? I can just imagine a directive from the White House demanding that the spelling be changed so that Americans won't start thinking that Obama and Osama are the same person. After all, there is only ONE letter difference and a whole lot of similarites outside the name. And if you are really into conspiracy theories, my husband brought out another interesting point that while God is the Alpha and the Omega, Obama's (and Osama's, for that matter) name starts and ends with the exact opposite order as the Lord's - the Omega and the Alpha... It's something to think about anyway.
OK, there's my ranting for the evening. I'm so distressed that every time I go to read the news now, there is another news article about some idiotic thing Obama or Biden have done - releasing top secret military information, apologizing for something that no apology should have been given for, releasing murderers and terrorists because it's the "nice thing to do"... and so on.
There have been people in office with whom I haven't agreed in principle or on moral and social issues, but this is something that goes so much deeper than that. We have created such ignorant sheep in our nation that they don't even know that they are not really making their own decisions. They are simply believing whatever is being fed to them. I wish people would wake up and THINK for themselves! Look around you and see what is going on. Our country is falling apart. I pray that the Lord will have mercy upon us all.
Sonya
Before the election, discussions about Obama's religion were all concentrated on the fact that he was a member of a "Christian" church. Now granted, it was a Christian church with a WHOLE lot of problems, including black racial supremacy, racial prejudice against "white people," and basically a calling for every white person to pay back the poor supressed black peoples who lived in slavery for two hundred years. Well, I'm sorry, but my husband and I, my parents, my grandparents, my great-grandparents, and I seriously doubt that my great-great-great-great grandparents would have ever had the money to own slaves even if we did think it was ethical, which we didn't! There were many "white people" who actually helped bring about the freedom of black persons so I'm about tired of all the focus being on "black" or "white." These people who are doing the complaining weren't even slaves and it's highly doubtful that even their grandparents were. Now if you go back to 1865, yes, their great-grandparents probably were and I'm so sorry for that, but not because I did it or because my parents did it, but simply because I'm sorry to know that anyone has been oppressed at any point in time. I hate to say it, but lately I have to say that I'm feeling a bit oppressed myself. Does this entitle me to anything? No. Does anyone owe me an apology? No. Do we live in a sinful world where we should all work harder to love our neighbors as ourselves? Absolutely!
Another thing that's bugging me is that in 2001, there was much talk about Osama Bin Laden. EVERYONE spelled his name with an "O" and perhaps the accurate spelling should have a "U" and since I'm all for accuracy, it's great that we would correct that, but it seems strange to me that even as of last summer, when I saw reports of Osama Bin Laden, his name was STILL spelled with an "O"!!! We didn't change this until after the election of a president who could very well himself be a "Bin Laden" in disguise since suddenly his "Christianity" means nothing. He has resigned his membership from his Christian church and although the fact that he was raised a Muslim was seriously downplayed during the campaign, you hear about it almost EVERY day now from Obama's mouth. He wants to make sure that the world - including the American people - know that he was - AND IS - a MUSLIM! Yes, he understands them. Yes, he sympathizes with them. Yes, he likes them and continues to apologize them for all our "wrongs," but what about all we have done right? Did his Muslim training forget to include all the times American soldiers - Christian or otherwise - laid down their lives to save the lives of MUSLIMS?
But anyway, doesn't anyone else think it's strange that suddenly every news outlet in America is using the "U" for Osama instead of the "O"? I can just imagine a directive from the White House demanding that the spelling be changed so that Americans won't start thinking that Obama and Osama are the same person. After all, there is only ONE letter difference and a whole lot of similarites outside the name. And if you are really into conspiracy theories, my husband brought out another interesting point that while God is the Alpha and the Omega, Obama's (and Osama's, for that matter) name starts and ends with the exact opposite order as the Lord's - the Omega and the Alpha... It's something to think about anyway.
OK, there's my ranting for the evening. I'm so distressed that every time I go to read the news now, there is another news article about some idiotic thing Obama or Biden have done - releasing top secret military information, apologizing for something that no apology should have been given for, releasing murderers and terrorists because it's the "nice thing to do"... and so on.
There have been people in office with whom I haven't agreed in principle or on moral and social issues, but this is something that goes so much deeper than that. We have created such ignorant sheep in our nation that they don't even know that they are not really making their own decisions. They are simply believing whatever is being fed to them. I wish people would wake up and THINK for themselves! Look around you and see what is going on. Our country is falling apart. I pray that the Lord will have mercy upon us all.
Sonya
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