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Sunday, September 28, 2008

Meal Plan Monday

So here we meet again for our weekly food plan! Oh for those who have noticed the dominance of broccoli in the menus every week. It is one of our few veggies so we eat it almost every night.

Monday: Oven Baked "Fried" Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli
Tuesday: Pasta Carbonara Florentine
Wednesday: Cube Steak, Beer Bread, Broccoli
Thursday: Chicken Kiev, Broccoli, Cheesy Grits
Friday: Pork Loin Chops, Broccoli, Rice

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Saturday, September 27, 2008

Fast Change (can you believe it?)

If think that a missile defense system (shooting down nuclear missiles before they hit us our our allies) is a good thing, or if you think that it is a frightening and dangerous escalation in war making capabilities, then we have just the man for you.

Another T-Shirt Incident

Here is the basic situation: a school is having one of those themed dressing days. This time it is red, white and blue. A kid comes in with a homemade red, white and blue anti-Obama shirt. He is told to wear it inside out or be suspended. He chose suspension. Oy!

(HT: Electric Venom)

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Friday, September 26, 2008

Science Dork Alert!

There is an awesome article how engineers are retrofitting UC Berkley's stadium. Why?
Memorial Stadium was built in 1923 atop the Hayward Fault, which the U.S. Geological Survey said has a 70 percent chance of hatching a 6.7-magnitude or greater quake by 2030. The earth could move up to 6 feet horizontally and 2 feet vertically, presenting a challenge to engineers charged with saving the stadium and the football fans who might be inside.

While plenty of buildings around the world sit atop earthquake faults, Memorial Stadium is unique because of the sheer quantity of people it holds: 75,662. It's also unique because seismologists know exactly where the fault lies - under Section LL, through both end zones and out Section XX.


Cool.

(HT: Instapundit)

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More Government Growth?

It looks like we are getting a Cabinet level Copyright Czar. Now copyright infringement was already being persecuted by the Federal government so does it really need to be grown to this level? Is this growing the nanny state and just taking more tax money or do you think it actually protects the capitalist society?

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Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Finally, Me First!

You think by staying at home you would get to experience all your baby's firsts. Well, it doesn't always work that way. With kid #3, his first steps were in Sunday School. They all said Dad first and so on. So with the NerdPud I wasn't surprised when I was out to lunch on a Saturday and missed her first steps. She said Dad first (and often). Well, I finally got a big first. Yesterday I was sitting on the couch playing with the NerdPud and I said, "I love you" and she said it too! I was and am stoked;).

But now I have to think about how quickly my last baby is growing up;).

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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Biden the Idiot (Again)

So what did Senator Joe Biden do this time?

From Senator and Vice-Presidential candidate Joe Biden on CBS News:

Part of what a leader does is to instill confidence, is demonstrate that he or she knows what they're talking about, and communicates to people, if you listen to me, and follow what I'm suggesting, we can fix this. When the stock market crashed, Franklin Roosevelt got on television, and didn't just talk about the, you know, the princes of greed, he said, look, here's what happened.


So what is the problem? Well, FDR wasn't President when the Stock Market crashed and the Depression began. Even if he was, tv isn't how he would have communicated with the public.

Volokh cuts Biden slack saying that he is just tired and speaking off the cuff. But I don't give him the same slack. He wanted to show how great the Democrats were and didn't have a real life example so he made up something somewhat believable.

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Christianity and Taxing the Wealthy

Chris B over at RedBlueChristian has a great piece on why taxing the rich at a higher rate and therefore charging them their "fair share" is wrong. A thought I am left with is if God had a flat rate in tithe, where do we get off having a sliding scale?

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Monday, September 22, 2008

Yet Another Reason We Homeschool

Recently my inbox has been flooded with pieces talking about how something needs to be done about the proposed Harvey Milk Day in California public schools.

I have to say that I am a bit ambivalent because it seems to fall in line with the purpose of socialized education. Which is to inhibit the development of Judeo-Christian values. This is what is called a "Dog Bites Man Story". If a man bites a dog, that is news. But is a dog bites a man, not so much because that is what dogs do. Homosexuality has become mainstream within the school system. So what makes you think that they wouldn't be looking for pioneers to celebrate? Just like when school became integrated we then began celebrating heroes of the integration (such as Martin Luther King Jr.). I am not saying that these people are equal in achievement. Harvey Milk is famous for being an openly gay politician who was killed for it. So he is the perfect martyr.

What worries me more is the situation that arose recently in Dos Palos where a kid was punished for wearing a shirt that depicted the US flag. And why?
The assistant principal initially thought Shelly's T-shirt violated a clause of the school dress code that does not allow "shirts/blouses that promote specific races, cultures, or ethnicities."


As NerdDad said when he heard about it, we have to be careful to not offend anyone who doesn't like America like the teachers. While I understand that the schools don't support my values but now they are blatant about their dislike for America. I think at this point, these type of situations are more dangerous than Harvey Milk Day.

But the overriding issue? I don't know what to say to parents who have their kids in school who are angry about Harvey Milk and say,"Call the Governor". My gut says, "You already handed you kids over to the school system. What did you expect? And do you really think a phone call will fix it all?" I know it is harsh but unfortunately true. If you don't like the influence of the system on your child (Harvey Milk Day, etc) the only thing you can really do to stop it is to remove the child from the situation.

Now do I just abandon the school system? No, I vote for change (and not Obama;) and do try to change things but not at the cost of my kids.

There is my rant for the day.

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Sunday, September 21, 2008

Meal Plan Monday

So let us see what will be for lunch and dinner this week.

Monday Lunch: Canadian Ham and Pepperoni pizza
Monday Dinner: Cantonese Lemon Chicken (New Recipe I found in the Carnival of Recipes), Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli
Tuesday Lunch: Sandwiches
Tuesday Dinner: Dinner from my sweet friend Mandy
Wednesday Lunch: Sandwiches
Wednesday Dinner: Lasagna Rolls with White Sauce
Thursday Lunch: Pizza Pasta Bake
Thursday Dinner: Cube Steak, Beer Bread, Broccoli
Friday Lunch: Sandwiches
Friday Dinner: Chicken Kiev, Broccoli Mac and Cheese Gratin

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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

More from Biden

More from Biden:





You're not just too dumb to understand Obama, your whole town is too dumb.

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Carnival of Homeschooling


Welcome to the Nerd Family House, why don't you come on in to see the great carnival we have going on inside.


Why don't we stop by the playroom so the kids who are done with their work can play. While we are here, let's check out Guilt Free Homeschooling and their post, Preschoolers' Educational School-Time Activities. If you are frustrated with keeping a preschooler occupied while you work with your older students, this list of activities is just what you need! These are simple activities that will teach valuable skills to your preschoolers, while keeping them engaged in their own FUN school-time projects using many materials you may already have available.


Here is the table where the kids are doing their seat work. Speaking of seat work and classes. The Daily Planet talks about Miss Amanda's new Spanish class in Homeschool Memoirs: Something New! Learning at His feet has a great post on Instructions in Teaching Drawing. I know here at the Nerdfamily I can totally use this because I can't draw a straight line much less anything else;). Laura Frantz gives us The Two Shall Meet: An Unschooler Charlotte Mason Narration.

No Fighting, No Biting! shows us how homeschoolers can learn science in the country in Real Life Biology 101. A Ten O'Clock shares lesson plans to accompany Classical Conversations Science memory work for Cycle 3.

Countdown to College shares about the National History Day projects in Making History (and BTW colleges and scholarship committees love these kind of things). Then over at Ms. Julie's Place, she has 2 posts that outline a simple science experiment/demonstration that can become the center of a unit study encompassing science concepts with biology, physics, and ecology, literature, math, theology, and more in An Eggs-traordinary Experiement Part I and Part II.

Greg Laden's Blog talks about a pre-algebra book in X+Y= WHAT??? SmallWorld offer us On the Trail with Lewis and Clark. She offers a review of the resources they used during their study of Lewis and Clark. Successful Homeschooling gives us Homeschool Physical Education. Mrs. Happy Housewife writes Carolus Linnaeus and Taxonomy in which she shares her taxonomy puzzle. Happy to be at Home offers us help in Teaching "d" and "b" differentiation including downloads!



Come sit down for a moment and have a cup of coffee. We can talk about the joys and challenges of our journey (and that includes the political side) and get a little support. Delighting in His Richness has a great post of encouragement, The Wheat Seed. It really can put life in perspective.

The Thinking Mother struggles with different ways to make a 'to do' list of homeschooling assignments for her children in Torn About Homeschool Scheduling. Welcome to My Brain offers what they do in Our School Day. Then Ordinary Time offers us The Art of the Schedule.

Tomorrow is Another Day offers her initial thoughts of homeschooling high school as she starts week 3 in her son's high school career in High School- So Far, So Good. The Family Revised has a great piece on The Expanse of Goals. She reminds us of the fact we are looking at the whole child and what all that entails. Simple Pleasures share her First Day of School. Cage Free Monkeys tells us about their Rainy Days.

Missy ponders the reasons of her decision to homeschool in Life Without School's offering that Sometimes It's Just a Shirt. Save Money Homeschooling reminds us that Homeschooling Has So Many Options. Practical Homeschooling offers us another installment of 101 Reasons to Homeschool Series with #5 Youthful Optomism. Barbara Frank Online talks about homeschooling freedom in The School Buses are Out Again.


A Family Runs Through It offers on man's Unfinished Opinion on homeschooling. Beverly's Homeschooling Blog asks, "Does your family support homeschooling?". She talks about how well meaning family members often share their concerns with us when they hear about our homeschooling and sometimes it's hard to know what to say. Bending the Twigs tells us to submit your comments in the debate about the merits of homeschooling between the Homeschool Association of California and the California Teachers' Association in And In This Corner. Alasandra's Homeschool Blog Awards is discussing how Scholastic Blames Homeschoolers for Measles Outbreak.

Principled Discovery has a hilarious piece with What's the matter with kids today? Learning at Home will give you a chuckle with her New Get Rich Quick Scheme. We have the kids at home all day, we might as well make a buck or two;). Life Nurturing Education gives us a quirky look at You Know You're a Homeschooler When....


Did you see my new piano (well new to me;)? Well, that is another story. But music is a great thing! But alas, I have no talent. Or do I? Thomas West Music has a great piece called Pitch Development: Exercising Your "Inner Ear". West says, ""I can't carry a tune in a bucket" is a common expression of those who consider themselves unmusical. Having a "tin ear" is another common description. It is certainly true that individuals possess varying levels of aptitude in regards to their musical intelligence, however, just like mathematic or linguistic intelligence, every person can take their aptitude level as a starting point and work to build stronger skills in that area." So maybe there is hope for me yet!

Let us go check out the group on the couches. They are handing out much needed advice on children and teaching. Henry, at Why Homeschool, reminds us that it is important to teach our children correct principles from the start in "Why is it so important to teach, correctly, the first time". Because if they accept a wrong idea, it can be very hard to unlearn it. Then Concerning Kids has an enlightening piece on Child Obesity.

Chrysalis offers up an insightful Family Life: Secrets of Raising Girls. I have 2 girls and I need this kind of information! Sharp Brain offers a piece on brain health and cognitive fitness in Your Brain at Work. OLIN e-Book e-Publishing Blog offers us the first chapter of an e-book that asks the question, "Just What Does 'Christ First' Mean with Homeschooling?".

Janice Campbell offers an academically-oriented four-year high school plan, with an emphasis on looking forward and preparing for life after high school. The plan is suitable for use whether or not your student plans to go to college.

Stop the Ride! is offering some great Free Educational Downloads. While The Sojourner offers her Favorite Homeschooling Curriculum for Free by download.

I am closing out with a contest from Mom is Teaching, but enter quickly because the deadline is Wednesday.

Thank you for coming by our "home". I hope you have enjoyed yourself, maybe even enough to participate next time. To find out all about that you can go to Why Homeschool to get all the details on how to participate. Next week we will all get together for move carnival fun at A Pondering Heart on Tuesday September 23rd.

Now go and read all these wonderful posts. Also be gracious to all the many article writers and let them know how much they are appreciated by commenting!

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Carnival of Homeschooling: Progress Report

If you are here looking for the Carnival of Homeschooling, you are in the right place. I am having some delays and it will be up this afternoon. Stay tuned for your scheduled program;).

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Sunday, September 14, 2008

Meal Plan Monday

This week is going to look a little funny when it comes to meal plans. Some dear friends at church are bringing us dinner a couple of nights this week to help with the chaos after Jeremy's surgery. I am also going to try to plan our lunches.

Monday Lunch: Homemade pizza with a Wheat crust, Pepperoni, and Canadian bacon, Grapes
Monday Dinner: Leftover Roast, Pilaf, Broccoli

Tuesday Lunch: Fast Food
Tuesday Dinner: Dinner brought by my sweet cousin

Wednesday Lunch: Sandwiches, Baby Carrots, Pub Mix (kids and hubby), Soup and Ceasar Salad (me)
Wednesday Dinner: Pizza Pasta Dish from my best friend Sara

Thursday Lunch: Orzo with Green Beans and shredded Chicken
Thursday Dinner: Dinner brought by Becky

Friday Lunch: Sandwiches, Baby Carrots, Pub Mix
Friday Dinner: Chicken Kiev, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli

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Call for Submissions!

For those of you who are afraid I will never blog about anything other than politics again, I am here to give you hope. Tuesday I will be hosting the Carnival of Homeschooling but I need something from all of you. I need your entries. Have an interesting piece on homeschooling? Then pop over to BlogCarnival and fill out a simple form. Then come back and read all the awesome entries we have!

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Friday, September 12, 2008

Preach It Girls!



I am Sarah Palin. I am a conservative woman!

(HT: Gateway Pundit)

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Yet Another Reason for McCain/Palin















I remember when I no longer wanted to be a lawyer when I grew up. It was when I was in 6th or 7th grade and my mom was in law school. There was all kinds of dumb things going on but when someone took books out of the law library so no one else could use them for the class assignment (according to my mom, I do not know this first hand) and they would be guaranteed the best grade. That did it. I was in junior high and realized how immature they all were. I wanted out of junior high and they all seemed to be clamoring to get back to it.

That taints my over all view, I admit it. I know good lawyers but on the whole... And these 2 dorks aren't going to be the exceptions to the lawyer stereo types. So don't vote for Obama/Biden.

(HT: American Digest)

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Monday, September 08, 2008

Homeschooler Powers Activate: Name the Bug



My friends over at The Weave were taking pictures at the park on Saturday and found this bug. While you can't really see the wings, it was flying. As The Weave describes it, it is a cross between a spider and a June Bug but they don't know what it is.

Well, I have faith in all you homeschooling families and I think it is a great time to show off your science knowledge. What is this bug? Let's knock the socks off this public school teacher(Who is a great guy, even though;). Leave your guesses or narrowing knowledge in the comments.

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Sunday, September 07, 2008

Meal Plan Monday

With everything starting this week and NerdDad (a post coming soon)being laid up, this is a bit of a dream to prevent fast food overload.

Monday: Roast, Potatoes, Broccoli
Tuesday: Left over Spinach Lasagna
Wednesday: Marinated Pork Loin Chops, Broccoli, Beer Bread
Thursday: Shredded Roast on Rolls, Broccoli
Friday: Pasta Carbonara Florentine

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Friday, September 05, 2008

Sarah, Piper, and Trig Palin - Hair treatment

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Biden the Idiot

I was watching Good Morning America this morning at the hospital while NerdDad was having his surgery and they were talking about the Palin speech. I haven’t seen it yet (it is on the Tivo) but it sounds like it was good. Then they had Senator Joe Biden on. He said that he was in the air when her speech started so he missed about a third of it.

So that leaves the question. Do we want to elect someone Vice President when he was smart enough/capable enough to get the same text that the press had ahead of time? Or that he couldn’t have someone tivo/record it so he could see all of it before he went on tv shows to comment?

Idiot.

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Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Hillary Humor



Who can't use a little giggle at Hillary's expense. Well, maybe it isn't funny because it might be true;).

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Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Is it Tigh/Roslin '08?


Some of you may remember my previous post that paralleled John McCain and Colonel Saul Tigh of Battlestar. Well it is nice to know that we are not the only Battlestar Galatica fans in the Republican Party. That is obvious by Palin's distinct Roslinesque look;). Thanks to Michael Doyle over at BurnLab for this awesome graphic!

(We totally are supporting the McCain/Palin ticket but that doesn't mean we have lost our sense of humor.)

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