Yet More Navel Gazing

Well, we school year round but we use the fall to update some stuff

This year we're using history odyssey by Pandia Press We're using the Middle Ages version which I'm supplementing with the SCA's Known Worlde Handbook (Yes, I used to play)

Pandia Press is also the creator of our science program...not sure how closely we're going to follow that as we tend to drill into a subject a bit more.

Still using Time4Learning

And Ben is really reading to drill with some math facts but in a fun way. Yesterday he picked out all the dominos that added to 5 and we talked about them and how their number sentences would look. He just shuts down with flashcards

My hometown made the front page of the NYT today. There have been multiple public meetings about teaching real science (and not faith) in the public schools. The fundamentalist Christian's inability to separate fact and faith is endagering the education that Clay County (where Orange Park is) children receive.

The superintendent of Clay County schools has publically stated that believes in teaching ID. This is why I'm not comfortable with sending my son to the local public school...what else is going to be OK to teach? In history are they going to learn that the founding fathers were all Christians (in the modern Fundamentalist way)? That you're a bad person if you don't believe in Jesus?

I really see the beginnings of an American theocracy here and it scares me. The beliefs here, in spite of the flag pins and magnetic yellow ribbons on the back of SUV's, are horrifically unamerican.

The NYT article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/education/24evolution.html?hp

The local paper article where the Clay County Superintendent expresses scary and moronic opinions:

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/011708/met_237288652.shtml



Debby

Fay has been a bad for me. Way too much time on the computer has led me to actually comment on blogs that I normally only read because I’m busy actually going out and doing things. Since everything has been cancelled for days…here I am!

One of my recent discoveries since moving to Florida is the belief among many Fundamentalist Christians that they automatically have the moral high ground. My good friend back in Chicago, who calls herself an evangelical Christian and rejects the descriptor ‘fundamentalist’, explained to me that FC’s are more interested in dominion and less in love. Just aren’t that many FC’s on the ground in Chicago either according to her so my exposure was limited to what I saw on TV. Being a Florida homeschooler has been an eye opening experience.

I’ve never been comfortable with the concept of total moral relativity. As my dad said, “You don’t want to be so open-minded that your brains fall out.” And, as I’ve aged and had children, I’ve become far more comfortable with saying, “Your position is wrong. It’s vile. And I don’t want it near my kids.”

Sooo…I was at a homeschool blog and commented and pointed out that I found her traditional FC position to be immoral. Later I thought about what happened the first time I said something similar to an FC in person and wondered if the blogger was having the same, “But I’m a Christian, how can I be immoral compared to you?” moment.

FC’s tend to be shocked when I say I find their position lacking in morality. And I think this is due, in part, to the lack of examination of their positions. FC’s assume the Bible is morally flawless and by following it they can do no wrong. That assumption itself is at BEST amoral because it means FC’s have decided to abandon any moral compass of their own. At worst? We end up with lovely events like the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the Holocaust (Just following orders/Nazi ideals, sir!), and the Cultural Revolution. The unexamined moral high ground is a very dangerous place.

Following a poorly educated, dimwitted, charismatic man who prides himself on anti-intellectualism makes one less, not more.

No insult intended to any Fay's out there, but Tropical Storm Fay's backside is coming through right now. After a relatively calm morning the wind and rain are now picking up.

St. Augustine has had it the worst. When Yumi was visiting, we went down there and ate at a Mexican restaurant right across the street from the Castillo de San Marco. Today's paper had a photo of the restaurant, sand bags in front and a worried owner in the doorway.

Last night it was really bad around 1AM...flickering lights and crazy wind noise! Of course, DH and the boys slept right through it.

I'm bored...I want to go out and run...instead I'm spending way too much time on the computer :)

I noticed the IOC 'investigated' the Chinese 'womens' gymnatics team for all of 3 hours. Niiiice....I guess the rules don't matter if you're the host country. UK athletes should start doing steriods NOW!

It's like a bad relationship that you just can't let go....China and the West.

The western countries thought, in a very co-dependent way, that by giving China what it wanted (international recognition) that China would stop doing the bad things it does (human rights violations, anti-democracy)

As any drug/alcohol counselor will tell you, giving what s/he says s/he needs will not end the addiction or bad behavior.

And, in true co-depenent relationship, the west is whinging up a storm about how dishonest China has been.


Underage gymnasts?!? Say it isn't true!
They roughed up reporters who tried to cover the protests? Amazing...
China tried to suppress coverage of the murder of an american tourist? Color me surprised
China forced thousands of Chinese families from their homes to make the Olympic venues? Say it isn't so!

*insert eye roll*

Jacksonville is getting ready for Fay to return to land Thursday AM as a Cat 1 hurricane. It's projected landfall is about 35 miles south of us, just north of St. Augustine.

We're ready! DH has water put aside, I have a pile of cash, cars are filled with gas and we have extra propane and canned goods. What I'm not ready for is the loss of power. In 2004 some of my friends lost power for 5 days. After 20 hours without power in the blistering summer heat I'm out of here.

So, one local store has put up hurricane barriers over its windows.




The God People are ready. The rest of the heathen stores (pet store, office supply store) are trusting in their insurance gods I guess.

:)

1) I forgot Simon's Birthday...I owe him

2) I got a headphone/microphone set for a naturalist class I'm taking. Downloaded some free software and did my first podcast.

Why I hate Homeschoolers


Yea me!

I like the man, I really do. He is by far one of the best speakers about populist issues.

But ugh...

after coming down hard on President BusyPants several years ago, former Senator Edwards is now involved in his own "what your definition of 'is' is" moment.

I don't believe what he said in his ABC interview.

I don't think this was the first one.
I don't think it ended in 2006.
I don't think the paternity test offer was honest.

Let's add some facts up here:

He's claiming that he broke it off in 2006 but stories are now reporting that he was at least speaking with The Other Woman (TOW) on the phone in 2007. WHY?

Edwards admits he was in the hotel room in 2008, holding a baby that isn't his...and neglected to mention it to his wife. Why would someone go to visit a woman that was never loved (see the ABC interview) hold her BABY and not tell his wife? Maybe because John Edwards is the father...

Why would big donors put her, the baby, and the alleged father and his family up in luxurious houses? If the alleged father really is the dad, how would that reflect poorly on Edwards? Did TOW turn down the offer of a paternity test in order to keep her $3million freebie home?

John Edwards must think we're all stupid. More is going to come out...and he's going to be reduced to chasing ambulances.

tentacles, my 4 year old boy asked this morning.

"Tentacles?" I replied. "You don't have tentacles."

"Yes, I do...right below my penis"

Ohhh....you mean testicles!

I gues some words sound too much alike for your average 4 year old.

Award winning actor, Morgan Freeman who got his start on the PBS show, "Electric Company" was in a serious car accident the other day. With him was a younger woman who is a 'friend'. Today his attorney announced he is divorcing his wife of 20+ years....

Say it with me, fellow Gen X'rs...


Cr................ap

Crap!


:)