I have heard that people are leaving states with heavy tax burdens. I had not realized how big a migration was occuring.
Tax refugees staging escape from New York reports:
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New Yorkers are fleeing the state and city in alarming numbers -- and costing a fortune in lost tax dollars, a new study shows.
More than 1.5 million state residents left for other parts of the United States from 2000 to 2008, according to the report from the Empire Center for New York State Policy. It was the biggest out-of-state migration in the country.
The vast majority of the migrants, 1.1 million, were former residents of New York City -- meaning one out of seven city taxpayers moved out.
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That is a huge migration.
The internet allows people to do their job remotely. Currently the R&D group I work in has 200 people scattered across the world. We have two main groups in the US, a group in India, and a group in China. We have individuals in a dozen states and even some living in Europe.
Over time I think it will become even easier to move away from oppressive states.
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Technorati tags: migration, taxes
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Print media may be dying
Establishment Media Dying Slowly But Surely lists top twenty five newspapers in the US. They have averaged around 10% decline in circulation over the last year.
This graph shows the average weekly circulation for six newspapers over the last 19 years. The LA Times was hit the hardest, dropping from over 1.2 million in 1990 to less than 650,000 in 2009.
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Technorati tags: newspaper, circulation
This graph shows the average weekly circulation for six newspapers over the last 19 years. The LA Times was hit the hardest, dropping from over 1.2 million in 1990 to less than 650,000 in 2009.
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Technorati tags: newspaper, circulation
The World's Smallests Working Model Train Layout
Just amazing:
Tiny Train Model May be World's Smallest explains:
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David Smith, who has been building model railroads since 1965, has always had a preference for the smaller scale train models. His most recent project is a five-car train that runs through a scene of mountains, a tunnel, trees, buildings, and a cloud-studded sky - the whole thing measuring just 0.125 x 0.2 inches (0.3 x 0.5 cm). The train's modeling scale is 1:35,200.
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The scale is 1 to thirty two thousand!!!
Baby Bop loves trains. We have a Brio train set. I expect we will upgrade at some point.
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Technorati tags: Model, Trains
Tiny Train Model May be World's Smallest explains:
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David Smith, who has been building model railroads since 1965, has always had a preference for the smaller scale train models. His most recent project is a five-car train that runs through a scene of mountains, a tunnel, trees, buildings, and a cloud-studded sky - the whole thing measuring just 0.125 x 0.2 inches (0.3 x 0.5 cm). The train's modeling scale is 1:35,200.
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The scale is 1 to thirty two thousand!!!
Baby Bop loves trains. We have a Brio train set. I expect we will upgrade at some point.
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Technorati tags: Model, Trains
Why you want your teenagers to keep their room clean
Fascinating study finds that Cleanliness is next to godliness: New research shows clean smells promote moral behavior:
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People are unconsciously fairer and more generous when they are in clean-smelling environments, according to a soon-to-be published study led by a Brigham Young University professor.
The research found a dramatic improvement in ethical behavior with just a few spritzes of citrus-scented Windex.
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Our house tends to be a bit of a mess. Our children are not real good about putting things away when they are done. Our solution is that we have friends and family over for dinner about once a week, which forces us to clean the house.
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Technorati tags: clean, moral
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People are unconsciously fairer and more generous when they are in clean-smelling environments, according to a soon-to-be published study led by a Brigham Young University professor.
The research found a dramatic improvement in ethical behavior with just a few spritzes of citrus-scented Windex.
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Our house tends to be a bit of a mess. Our children are not real good about putting things away when they are done. Our solution is that we have friends and family over for dinner about once a week, which forces us to clean the house.
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Technorati tags: clean, moral
Interesting: How we come across information affects us
This is fascinating. A study found that the Internet search process affects cognition, emotion of the searcher. There was a difference between if someone was searching for specific information, or just happened across it while surfing the internet:
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Nearly 73 percent of all American adults use the Internet on a daily basis, according to a 2009 Pew Internet and American Life Project survey. Half of these adults use the Web to find information via search engines, while 38 percent use it to pass the time. In a recent study, University of Missouri researchers found that readers were better able to understand, remember and emotionally respond to material found through "searching" compared to content found while "surfing."
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The article concludes with:
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The researchers also found that information was better understood and remembered when individuals conducted specific searches for information. In a previous study, Wise tested the effects of searching and surfing on readers' responses to images and found similar results.
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Technorati tags: internet, education
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Nearly 73 percent of all American adults use the Internet on a daily basis, according to a 2009 Pew Internet and American Life Project survey. Half of these adults use the Web to find information via search engines, while 38 percent use it to pass the time. In a recent study, University of Missouri researchers found that readers were better able to understand, remember and emotionally respond to material found through "searching" compared to content found while "surfing."
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The article concludes with:
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The researchers also found that information was better understood and remembered when individuals conducted specific searches for information. In a previous study, Wise tested the effects of searching and surfing on readers' responses to images and found similar results.
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Technorati tags: internet, education
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
What some teachers see parents as good for
Ruben Navarette worked as a teacher for five years before he become a columnist. He likes President Obama's school reform ideas. (We're back to the talk vs. action problem. It is easy to say cool sounding things, but much harder to do them.)
This is the fascinating part of Navarette's column:
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It was there that he went to bat for low-income black parents who, like scores of parents who send their kids to underperforming schools throughout America, are caught in a frustrating and almost comical paradox. They're turned away, shunned, treated with condescension and even insulted by self-serving public school "edu-crats" who treat these institutions like their own private offices where they don't want to be bothered by anyone who doesn't have a teaching or administrative credential.
Then, incredibly, the parents are blamed for not participating and involving themselves more in that hostile environment and when many of them thought that teaching their kids was the job of, well, teachers.
It's been my experience that many teachers don't really care whether parents go to the PTA or help their kids with homework. They just want a constant foil, someone to blame when students flounder and the schools underperform. And, when that happens, in any public school in America, suddenly there's not a mirror to be found. It's always someone else's fault.
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I wonder how many teachers in government schools see parents as the scape goats?
(Hat tip: Joanne Jacobs)
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Technorati tags: children, education, government schools, children, public school, public education
This is the fascinating part of Navarette's column:
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It was there that he went to bat for low-income black parents who, like scores of parents who send their kids to underperforming schools throughout America, are caught in a frustrating and almost comical paradox. They're turned away, shunned, treated with condescension and even insulted by self-serving public school "edu-crats" who treat these institutions like their own private offices where they don't want to be bothered by anyone who doesn't have a teaching or administrative credential.
Then, incredibly, the parents are blamed for not participating and involving themselves more in that hostile environment and when many of them thought that teaching their kids was the job of, well, teachers.
It's been my experience that many teachers don't really care whether parents go to the PTA or help their kids with homework. They just want a constant foil, someone to blame when students flounder and the schools underperform. And, when that happens, in any public school in America, suddenly there's not a mirror to be found. It's always someone else's fault.
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I wonder how many teachers in government schools see parents as the scape goats?
(Hat tip: Joanne Jacobs)
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Technorati tags: children, education, government schools, children, public school, public education
Scary Statistics
I've known that the American family has been hit hard over the last couple decades. I hadn't realized just how bad it has gotten.
Rebecca Hagelin in Maria Shriver Misses the Point reports:
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Look at just how far the American family has disintegrated: In 1950 for every 100 babies that were born, 12 were born to a broken family; they were either born out of wedlock or to a family that would soon suffer divorce. Fast forward to the 21st century and we find a gross tragedy: For every 100 babies that are born in America, 60 are born to a broken family.
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Wow!
My heart goes out to all those children.
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Technorati tags: parenting, children
Rebecca Hagelin in Maria Shriver Misses the Point reports:
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Look at just how far the American family has disintegrated: In 1950 for every 100 babies that were born, 12 were born to a broken family; they were either born out of wedlock or to a family that would soon suffer divorce. Fast forward to the 21st century and we find a gross tragedy: For every 100 babies that are born in America, 60 are born to a broken family.
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Wow!
My heart goes out to all those children.
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Technorati tags: parenting, children
The Carnival of Homeschooling is up!
This week's Carnival of Homeschooling is being hosted at at Janice Campbell - Taking Times For Things That Matter.
Janice starts off with:
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Welcome to this hundred-and-umpteenth Carnival of Homeschooling! Because November is National Novel Writing Month (also known as NaNoWriMo or nano), and I’m over 10,000 words into the writing process (and can’t think of anything but writing, writing, and more writing), I thought it would be appropriate to format this Carnival as sections of a book. I even consulted the Chicago Manual of Style for an authoritative list of book parts!
Introduction
For me, homeschooling is first and foremost a heart matter. In Mangled Schedules and Grateful Hearts, an article I wrote for Home School Enrichment magazine, you can read how a father’s presence and influence can shape a family school. Enjoy!
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She continues with several more chapters.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Janice starts off with:
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Welcome to this hundred-and-umpteenth Carnival of Homeschooling! Because November is National Novel Writing Month (also known as NaNoWriMo or nano), and I’m over 10,000 words into the writing process (and can’t think of anything but writing, writing, and more writing), I thought it would be appropriate to format this Carnival as sections of a book. I even consulted the Chicago Manual of Style for an authoritative list of book parts!
Introduction
For me, homeschooling is first and foremost a heart matter. In Mangled Schedules and Grateful Hearts, an article I wrote for Home School Enrichment magazine, you can read how a father’s presence and influence can shape a family school. Enjoy!
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She continues with several more chapters.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Vouchers in Washington DC
Vouchers without lots of strings would lead to a huge improvement in public education. Yet every where I turn it seems like politicians are against them. I think one main reason is then politicians lose some control. Another reason is most because teachers feel threatened and their unions are opposed to vouchers.
Joanne Jacobs has another episode of the voucher saga in AG Holder vs. school choice ad. She stars with:
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D.C. voucher advocates have been pressuring Democrats to revive funding for the program, which low-income students $7,400 scholarships to attend private schools. Democratic opponents are wobbling, but the administration apparently would like to silence the criticism, reports The Weekly Standard and Black America Web.
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Here the politicians are trying to shut down the discussion over the value of vouchers! Sad.
Parents with enough means can put their children in private schools, but children who need a good education the most too often have the fewest options.
It is easy for President Obama to say he is for change and wants to improve government schools. But actions speak louder then words when he tries to shut down the debate.
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Technorati tags: children, education, government schools, children, public school, public education
Joanne Jacobs has another episode of the voucher saga in AG Holder vs. school choice ad. She stars with:
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D.C. voucher advocates have been pressuring Democrats to revive funding for the program, which low-income students $7,400 scholarships to attend private schools. Democratic opponents are wobbling, but the administration apparently would like to silence the criticism, reports The Weekly Standard and Black America Web.
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Here the politicians are trying to shut down the discussion over the value of vouchers! Sad.
Parents with enough means can put their children in private schools, but children who need a good education the most too often have the fewest options.
It is easy for President Obama to say he is for change and wants to improve government schools. But actions speak louder then words when he tries to shut down the debate.
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Technorati tags: children, education, government schools, children, public school, public education
Interesting article on the importance of trust
Tim Harford writes about The Economics Of Trust:
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Imagine going to the corner store to buy a carton of milk, only to find that the refrigerator is locked. When you've persuaded the shopkeeper to retrieve the milk, you then end up arguing over whether you're going to hand the money over first, or whether he is going to hand over the milk. Finally you manage to arrange an elaborate simultaneous exchange. A little taste of life in a world without trust--now imagine trying to arrange a mortgage.
Being able to trust people might seem like a pleasant luxury, but economists are starting to believe that it's rather more important than that. Trust is about more than whether you can leave your house unlocked; it is responsible for the difference between the richest countries and the poorest.
"If you take a broad enough definition of trust, then it would explain basically all the difference between the per capita income of the United States and Somalia," ventures Steve Knack, a senior economist at the World Bank who has been studying the economics of trust for over a decade. That suggests that trust is worth $12.4 trillion dollars a year to the U.S., which, in case you are wondering, is 99.5% of this country's income. If you make $40,000 a year, then $200 is down to hard work and $39,800 is down to trust.
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I remember hearing that one of the reasons England's economy did so well about two hundred years ago was that the Quakers or Methodists developed a network of trust, and were able to create larger businesses and take riskier ventures.
Trust shouldn't be blind. I like the line of "Trust, but verify."
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Technorati tags: trust, economy
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Imagine going to the corner store to buy a carton of milk, only to find that the refrigerator is locked. When you've persuaded the shopkeeper to retrieve the milk, you then end up arguing over whether you're going to hand the money over first, or whether he is going to hand over the milk. Finally you manage to arrange an elaborate simultaneous exchange. A little taste of life in a world without trust--now imagine trying to arrange a mortgage.
Being able to trust people might seem like a pleasant luxury, but economists are starting to believe that it's rather more important than that. Trust is about more than whether you can leave your house unlocked; it is responsible for the difference between the richest countries and the poorest.
"If you take a broad enough definition of trust, then it would explain basically all the difference between the per capita income of the United States and Somalia," ventures Steve Knack, a senior economist at the World Bank who has been studying the economics of trust for over a decade. That suggests that trust is worth $12.4 trillion dollars a year to the U.S., which, in case you are wondering, is 99.5% of this country's income. If you make $40,000 a year, then $200 is down to hard work and $39,800 is down to trust.
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I remember hearing that one of the reasons England's economy did so well about two hundred years ago was that the Quakers or Methodists developed a network of trust, and were able to create larger businesses and take riskier ventures.
Trust shouldn't be blind. I like the line of "Trust, but verify."
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Technorati tags: trust, economy
Kind of interesting what passes for news - parents best to use tough love
Our society today is very permissive. We are taught to be tolerance to the point of extreme. A ripple effect of this is many parents think they are suppose to only love their children, never to be judgemental or discipline their children.
Why tough love is best: Parental warmth AND discipline produces best adults, admits Left-wing think-tank reports that both love and discipline help children:
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Taking a 'tough love' approach to parenting increases the chances a child will grow into a well-rounded, successful adult, a think-tank said yesterday.
Combining warmth and discipline means youngsters are more likely to develop skills such as application, self-discipline and empathy, according to a study.
The Demos report found these traits were shaped during the preschool years - more often as the result of 'tough love' parenting - and regardless of whether parents were rich or poor.
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Part of me wonders why is this even news, but given today's culture, maybe parents need to be reminded that their children will benefit from some discipline, as well as lots of love.
(Hat tip: EducationNews.org)
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Technorati tags: parenting, children
Why tough love is best: Parental warmth AND discipline produces best adults, admits Left-wing think-tank reports that both love and discipline help children:
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Taking a 'tough love' approach to parenting increases the chances a child will grow into a well-rounded, successful adult, a think-tank said yesterday.
Combining warmth and discipline means youngsters are more likely to develop skills such as application, self-discipline and empathy, according to a study.
The Demos report found these traits were shaped during the preschool years - more often as the result of 'tough love' parenting - and regardless of whether parents were rich or poor.
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Part of me wonders why is this even news, but given today's culture, maybe parents need to be reminded that their children will benefit from some discipline, as well as lots of love.
(Hat tip: EducationNews.org)
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Technorati tags: parenting, children
Moments in History - The Fall of the Berlin Wall
One of my brothers posted this on Facebook:
It is very powerful. I think too often most of us take our freedom for granted.
My brother also found this video.
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Technorati tags: Fall, Berlin, Wall
It is very powerful. I think too often most of us take our freedom for granted.
My brother also found this video.
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Technorati tags: Fall, Berlin, Wall
Monday, November 09, 2009
John Stossel asks "Is college worth it?"
John Stossel asks is the cost of going to college worth the hope for return?
Too many students graduate from college with tens of thousands of dollars in debt.
I've blogged in the past about the problem of rising cost of a college education.
If a tuition was a thousand dollars a year then a Bachelors degree could be worth it. If tuition was a million dollars a year, then there is no economic justification for going to college.
Our society is moving more and more to a point where the cost of college is too much for too many adults.
John Stossel reviews some of the other options.Our society is too quick to encourage everyone go off to college.
Janine and I do plan for our children to go to college, but we'll try to do it on the cheap. Our goal is for them to do a number of classes in the local Junior colleges.
(Hat tip: via the HSC mailing list)
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Technorati tags: college, cost, education
Too many students graduate from college with tens of thousands of dollars in debt.
I've blogged in the past about the problem of rising cost of a college education.
If a tuition was a thousand dollars a year then a Bachelors degree could be worth it. If tuition was a million dollars a year, then there is no economic justification for going to college.
Our society is moving more and more to a point where the cost of college is too much for too many adults.
John Stossel reviews some of the other options.Our society is too quick to encourage everyone go off to college.
Janine and I do plan for our children to go to college, but we'll try to do it on the cheap. Our goal is for them to do a number of classes in the local Junior colleges.
(Hat tip: via the HSC mailing list)
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Technorati tags: college, cost, education
Good thought about worrying
From Dan Galvin's Thought For The Day mailing list:
"Worry is the darkroom where negatives are developed."
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Technorati tags: Worry
"Worry is the darkroom where negatives are developed."
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Technorati tags: Worry
Reminder - send in a post for the next Carnival of Homeschooling
You have just eight hours to send in your entry for the next Carnival of Homeschooling.
The Carnival of Homeschooling at be hosted at Janice Campbell - Taking Times For Things That Matter.
As always, entries to the Carnival of Homeschooling are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.
Here are the instructions for sending in a submission.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
The Carnival of Homeschooling at be hosted at Janice Campbell - Taking Times For Things That Matter.
As always, entries to the Carnival of Homeschooling are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.
Here are the instructions for sending in a submission.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
A bit mind boggling - parents need background checks to watch children on playgrounds
Joanne Jacobs reports Brits ban parents from playgrounds :
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In Watford, England, parents can’t watch their own kids in playgrounds, unless they’ve submitted to a criminal records check. It’s all in the name of protecting children from pedophiles. Parents are guilty till proven innocent.
Mums and dads must stay outside the fence at two adventure playgrounds while “play rangers,” public employees cleared by the police, supervise the children.
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Sad.
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Technorati tags: parents, children, playground
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In Watford, England, parents can’t watch their own kids in playgrounds, unless they’ve submitted to a criminal records check. It’s all in the name of protecting children from pedophiles. Parents are guilty till proven innocent.
Mums and dads must stay outside the fence at two adventure playgrounds while “play rangers,” public employees cleared by the police, supervise the children.
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Sad.
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Technorati tags: parents, children, playground
People want to move!
I find this fascinating: 700 Million Worldwide Desire to Migrate Permanently:
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Every day, migrants leave their homelands behind for new lives in other countries. Reflecting this desire, rather than the reality of the numbers that actually migrate, Gallup finds about 16% of the world's adults would like to move to another country permanently if they had the chance. This translates to roughly 700 million worldwide -- more than the entire adult population of North and South America combined.
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Large number of people in Sub-Saharan Africa want to move, an average of 38% would like to move permanently. I was surprised that Asia had the lowest percentage, only about 10%.
Go check out the map.
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Technorati tags: People move
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Every day, migrants leave their homelands behind for new lives in other countries. Reflecting this desire, rather than the reality of the numbers that actually migrate, Gallup finds about 16% of the world's adults would like to move to another country permanently if they had the chance. This translates to roughly 700 million worldwide -- more than the entire adult population of North and South America combined.
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Large number of people in Sub-Saharan Africa want to move, an average of 38% would like to move permanently. I was surprised that Asia had the lowest percentage, only about 10%.
Go check out the map.
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Technorati tags: People move
Are you looking for a novel location for a weekend get away?
I think this would be totally cool: Space hotel taking bookings for 2012 opening:
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The first orbiting space hotel is on track to open for its first customers in 2012, but hurry, as bookings are filling fast.
The cost of three nights on the Galactic Suite Space Resort (plus a two-month training course on a Caribbean island beforehand) will be $4.4 million US. At least 43 people have already reserved their place, with over 200 expressing an interest.
Guests would circumnavigate the globe every 80 minutes and see the sun rise 15 times a day. They would get around their "pod" rooms by wearing Velcro suits that stick them to the walls to enable them to crawl.
CEO of the Barcelona-based company Galactic Suite Ltd, Xavier Claramunt, said the hotel would make his company a leader in the fledgling industry, which he believes has a great future, with space tourism becoming commonplace. Claramunt, formerly an aerospace engineer, said that within perhaps only 15 years, it could be quite normal to spend a weekend in space.
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I'll wait until the $4 million dollar price tag drops by a couple orders of magnitude.
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The first orbiting space hotel is on track to open for its first customers in 2012, but hurry, as bookings are filling fast.
The cost of three nights on the Galactic Suite Space Resort (plus a two-month training course on a Caribbean island beforehand) will be $4.4 million US. At least 43 people have already reserved their place, with over 200 expressing an interest.
Guests would circumnavigate the globe every 80 minutes and see the sun rise 15 times a day. They would get around their "pod" rooms by wearing Velcro suits that stick them to the walls to enable them to crawl.
CEO of the Barcelona-based company Galactic Suite Ltd, Xavier Claramunt, said the hotel would make his company a leader in the fledgling industry, which he believes has a great future, with space tourism becoming commonplace. Claramunt, formerly an aerospace engineer, said that within perhaps only 15 years, it could be quite normal to spend a weekend in space.
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I'll wait until the $4 million dollar price tag drops by a couple orders of magnitude.
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Saturday, November 07, 2009
Another study showing that the problem with public schools is not a lack of money
The Phony Funding Crisis has some good data showing that the problem with government schools is not a lack of money. The article is a bit long, but worth reading. This gives a sense of the tone of the article:
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For a variety of reasons, from one year to the next, schools almost always have more real revenue for each of their enrolled students. For the past hundred years, with rare and short exceptions and after controlling for inflation, public schools have had both more money and more employees per student in each succeeding year. Teacher salaries have increased more than 42 percent in constant dollars over the past half century, while educators’ working conditions, health plans, and retirement arrangements have become ever more commodious. Moreover, school-related revenues and employment levels have increased even when the economy (as measured by Gross Domestic Product or GDP) turned down, unlike what typically happens in sectors such as manufacturing and retail sales, where recessions trigger cutbacks in personnel and profits.
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One graph in the article showed that over the last 35 years the number of students in public elementary and secondary schools has slowly climbed from fifty million students to around fifty eight million students. The fascinating thing was the number of employees sky rocketed from about 220,000 to 850,000.
To put this in context the number of students climbed by about 15% while the number of employees went up by almost 300%.
Public schools have enough money, they just need to be wiser about how it is spent. And many government programs demanding money be spent in certain ways should be cut back or eliminated.
(Hat tip: Joanne Jacobs)
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Technorati tags: children, education, government schools, children, public school, public education
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For a variety of reasons, from one year to the next, schools almost always have more real revenue for each of their enrolled students. For the past hundred years, with rare and short exceptions and after controlling for inflation, public schools have had both more money and more employees per student in each succeeding year. Teacher salaries have increased more than 42 percent in constant dollars over the past half century, while educators’ working conditions, health plans, and retirement arrangements have become ever more commodious. Moreover, school-related revenues and employment levels have increased even when the economy (as measured by Gross Domestic Product or GDP) turned down, unlike what typically happens in sectors such as manufacturing and retail sales, where recessions trigger cutbacks in personnel and profits.
---------
One graph in the article showed that over the last 35 years the number of students in public elementary and secondary schools has slowly climbed from fifty million students to around fifty eight million students. The fascinating thing was the number of employees sky rocketed from about 220,000 to 850,000.
To put this in context the number of students climbed by about 15% while the number of employees went up by almost 300%.
Public schools have enough money, they just need to be wiser about how it is spent. And many government programs demanding money be spent in certain ways should be cut back or eliminated.
(Hat tip: Joanne Jacobs)
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Technorati tags: children, education, government schools, children, public school, public education
Facebook helps track down a criminal
I thought this was funny: Fraud fugitive in Facebook trap:
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A man on the run, wanted for fraud by US authorities, inadvertently revealed where he was hiding through a series of extravagant Facebook updates.
Cameroon-born Maxi Sopo's messages made it clear he was living the high life in the Mexican resort of Cancun.
He also added a former US justice department official to his friend list who ended up helping to track him down.
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More details in Fugitive caught after updating his status on Facebook.
(Hat tip: Risks)
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Technorati tags: Facebook, friend
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A man on the run, wanted for fraud by US authorities, inadvertently revealed where he was hiding through a series of extravagant Facebook updates.
Cameroon-born Maxi Sopo's messages made it clear he was living the high life in the Mexican resort of Cancun.
He also added a former US justice department official to his friend list who ended up helping to track him down.
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More details in Fugitive caught after updating his status on Facebook.
(Hat tip: Risks)
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Technorati tags: Facebook, friend
Friday, November 06, 2009
Yesterday was one of those days
My day started around 6 am with the patter of little feet. (Unfortunately, Baby Bop has not yet adjusted to the time change.) Baby Bop climbed in bed with me and I successful stalled him for 15 minutes before I had to get up. First I got Baby Bop dressed and then got dressed myself. Normally, I'm not so quick to get either of us dressed, but yesterday was Baby Bop's turn to go out for breakfast with Dad and Mom. By 7 am we were out the door on our way to IHOP.
We got back to the house around 8:15 am. I quickly did our "smells and sounds" therapy routine with Baby Bop and the girls before family scripture study. After we read 20 verses and I repeated the "smells and sounds " routine before going out the door at 8:50 am for Baby Bop's preschool. Thursday's are my work day at preschool, so my father-in-law or mother-in-law spend the morning with my girls.
While I was at preschool, my older ones worked on their school work while grandpa played chess and Lego Robotics stuff with my youngest daughter.
At 12 noon on the way home from preschool with a cranky kid, I realized that I didn't have enough room in the car to drive the Lego League carpool. I called Henry at work and arranged to switch vehicles. Half way there, I realized that my father-in-law could take the kids to Lego League. I continued on my way home and arrived around 12:30 pm. Grandpa drove off with the older two girls and went to pick up another Lego team member who needed a ride.
After they left, I realized that I still had a problem. I needed to pick up 3 kids from Lego's which doesn't leave enough room in the car if I have my two younger ones with me. I call a friend to arrange a play date so that I could drop off my youngest daughter on my way to pick up at Lego's. I fed Baby Bop his lunch which greatly improved his temperament. I can't remember what I ate for lunch.
By this time, it is about 1:15 pm and time to go to Baby Bop's speech therapy at the school near my house. Baby Bop and I walked to the school. I allowed my 9 year old to stay home alone (for the first time). While Baby Bop played with the speech therapist, I waited outside and made a few phone calls. Speech therapy ended promptly at 2 pm and we walked home.
After I got home, the play date called and offered to pick my youngest daughter up on their way home from the grocery store. At 2:40 pm, my youngest daughter went out the door with her soccer equipment and was on her way to the play date. I left with Baby Bop for the Lego pick up.
I arrived at Lego's around 3 pm and we loaded up and headed for home. I dropped off my girls at home around 3:30 pm and then drove the Lego teammate home. I received about three phone calls from my middle daughter who was having a difficult time finding her soccer cleats. I called my youngest daughter at her play date and asked her to check to make sure that she didn't have her sister's soccer cleats.
Lucky for us, I remembered that my daughter had helped me catch our bunny in the back yard after the last soccer practice. I called my middle daughter back and suggested that she look in the back yard where she quickly found her cleats.
I arrived home at the same time as my middle daughter's ride to soccer. I took poor Baby Bop out of the car to change his diaper and to feed him a snack. At 4:15 pm, we were back in the car on our way to drop off my oldest daughter at her soccer practice.
After dropping of my oldest daughter, I drove to my youngest daughter's soccer practice (which Henry coaches). My youngest daughter was already there. Her play date lives near the soccer field and they had graciously offered to walk her over to practice.
I had intended to drive to the grocery store and pick up something from the deli for dinner. Baby Bop wanted to play at the soccer field and since the poor kid has spent so much time in the car, we stayed and kicked a soccer ball while the team practiced.
A little after 5 pm, I threw Baby Bop in the car and drove to Jack In The Box. From Jack In The Box, I drove to my oldest daughter's soccer practice, picked her up and headed home. We arrived home around 5:40 pm. Henry got there about 5 minutes later.
Henry quickly changed clothes and Henry and I were back in the car on the way to a foster parent class. Unfortunately, I forgot to grab something out of the Jack In The Box bag for Henry, so he didn't get his dinner till later.
After we left, my middle daughter arrived home for soccer. The girls took turns taking care of Baby Bop and they put him to bed while we were gone. Henry and I arrived at the foster parent class only a few minutes late.
The class ended at 8 pm and (I'm embarrassed to admit) we headed back to Jack In The Box. On our way home, we stopped to pick up something from Henry's soccer coordinator and arrived home around 8:30 pm. Baby Bop was in bed and two of the girls were watching Star Gate on the computer. When the show ended, we had the girls do a 10 minute tidy and sent them off to bed.
Henry and I headed towards bed around 10 pm. I think I was asleep by 11 pm. This morning started with the patter of little feet at 5:58 am.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education
We got back to the house around 8:15 am. I quickly did our "smells and sounds" therapy routine with Baby Bop and the girls before family scripture study. After we read 20 verses and I repeated the "smells and sounds " routine before going out the door at 8:50 am for Baby Bop's preschool. Thursday's are my work day at preschool, so my father-in-law or mother-in-law spend the morning with my girls.
While I was at preschool, my older ones worked on their school work while grandpa played chess and Lego Robotics stuff with my youngest daughter.
At 12 noon on the way home from preschool with a cranky kid, I realized that I didn't have enough room in the car to drive the Lego League carpool. I called Henry at work and arranged to switch vehicles. Half way there, I realized that my father-in-law could take the kids to Lego League. I continued on my way home and arrived around 12:30 pm. Grandpa drove off with the older two girls and went to pick up another Lego team member who needed a ride.
After they left, I realized that I still had a problem. I needed to pick up 3 kids from Lego's which doesn't leave enough room in the car if I have my two younger ones with me. I call a friend to arrange a play date so that I could drop off my youngest daughter on my way to pick up at Lego's. I fed Baby Bop his lunch which greatly improved his temperament. I can't remember what I ate for lunch.
By this time, it is about 1:15 pm and time to go to Baby Bop's speech therapy at the school near my house. Baby Bop and I walked to the school. I allowed my 9 year old to stay home alone (for the first time). While Baby Bop played with the speech therapist, I waited outside and made a few phone calls. Speech therapy ended promptly at 2 pm and we walked home.
After I got home, the play date called and offered to pick my youngest daughter up on their way home from the grocery store. At 2:40 pm, my youngest daughter went out the door with her soccer equipment and was on her way to the play date. I left with Baby Bop for the Lego pick up.
I arrived at Lego's around 3 pm and we loaded up and headed for home. I dropped off my girls at home around 3:30 pm and then drove the Lego teammate home. I received about three phone calls from my middle daughter who was having a difficult time finding her soccer cleats. I called my youngest daughter at her play date and asked her to check to make sure that she didn't have her sister's soccer cleats.
Lucky for us, I remembered that my daughter had helped me catch our bunny in the back yard after the last soccer practice. I called my middle daughter back and suggested that she look in the back yard where she quickly found her cleats.
I arrived home at the same time as my middle daughter's ride to soccer. I took poor Baby Bop out of the car to change his diaper and to feed him a snack. At 4:15 pm, we were back in the car on our way to drop off my oldest daughter at her soccer practice.
After dropping of my oldest daughter, I drove to my youngest daughter's soccer practice (which Henry coaches). My youngest daughter was already there. Her play date lives near the soccer field and they had graciously offered to walk her over to practice.
I had intended to drive to the grocery store and pick up something from the deli for dinner. Baby Bop wanted to play at the soccer field and since the poor kid has spent so much time in the car, we stayed and kicked a soccer ball while the team practiced.
A little after 5 pm, I threw Baby Bop in the car and drove to Jack In The Box. From Jack In The Box, I drove to my oldest daughter's soccer practice, picked her up and headed home. We arrived home around 5:40 pm. Henry got there about 5 minutes later.
Henry quickly changed clothes and Henry and I were back in the car on the way to a foster parent class. Unfortunately, I forgot to grab something out of the Jack In The Box bag for Henry, so he didn't get his dinner till later.
After we left, my middle daughter arrived home for soccer. The girls took turns taking care of Baby Bop and they put him to bed while we were gone. Henry and I arrived at the foster parent class only a few minutes late.
The class ended at 8 pm and (I'm embarrassed to admit) we headed back to Jack In The Box. On our way home, we stopped to pick up something from Henry's soccer coordinator and arrived home around 8:30 pm. Baby Bop was in bed and two of the girls were watching Star Gate on the computer. When the show ended, we had the girls do a 10 minute tidy and sent them off to bed.
Henry and I headed towards bed around 10 pm. I think I was asleep by 11 pm. This morning started with the patter of little feet at 5:58 am.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
The Carnival of Homeschooling is up!
Mary is hosting this week's Carnival of Homeschooling at The Informed Parent.
She starts off with a quote from John Holt:
"What children need is not new and better curricula but access to more and more of the real world; plenty of time and space to think over their experiences, and to use fantasy and play to make meaning out of them; and advice, road maps, guidebooks, to make it easier for them to get where they want to go (not where we think they ought to go), and to find out what they want to find out."
and rotates the carnival around how we spend time with our children.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
She starts off with a quote from John Holt:
"What children need is not new and better curricula but access to more and more of the real world; plenty of time and space to think over their experiences, and to use fantasy and play to make meaning out of them; and advice, road maps, guidebooks, to make it easier for them to get where they want to go (not where we think they ought to go), and to find out what they want to find out."
and rotates the carnival around how we spend time with our children.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
10 things Google has taught us
My mother sent me a link to 10 things Google has taught us. It is an interesting article.
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Technorati tags: Google
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Technorati tags: Google
Monday, November 02, 2009
Another beautiful picture from APOD - Starburst Galaxy IC 10
Mike Siniscalchi gave me permision to post his beautiful picture of Starburst Galaxy IC 10:
If you like this astronomy pictures, you can check out the Astronomy Picture of the Day, every day!
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Technorati tags: Astronomy, Astronomy Picture of the day, Starburst, Galaxy, IC 10
If you like this astronomy pictures, you can check out the Astronomy Picture of the Day, every day!
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Technorati tags: Astronomy, Astronomy Picture of the day, Starburst, Galaxy, IC 10
Reminder - send in a post for the next Carnival of Homeschooling
You have just five and a half hours to send in your entry for the next Carnival of Homeschooling.
The Carnival of Homeschooling at be hosted by Mary at The Informed Parent.
As always, entries to the Carnival of Homeschooling are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.
Here are the instructions for sending in a submission.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
The Carnival of Homeschooling at be hosted by Mary at The Informed Parent.
As always, entries to the Carnival of Homeschooling are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.
Here are the instructions for sending in a submission.
----------
Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
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