EXPELLED!

"EXPELLED! No Intelligence Allowed" is a new, controversial documentary about Intelligent Design and the debate between Creationism and Evolution.

Being a Christian with a science degree and somewhat analytical thinking, I cannot accept that life, any life, on this planet is the result of an extremely rare, incredibly lucky accident. There is a designer behind all of this and it is God. His hand is in our creation and the creation of all life.

And while I do believe that he guides our lives, he has given us free will. That will extends to all of his creations. They, and we, make choices and we must live with those choices. Or die by them. We can adapt according to our free will, thus creating evolution in ourselves. All of God's creatures can do this. So, evolution exists within the realm of the creation of all life by our omnipotent God.

After seeing this trailer, I would like to see how well the issue is handled. We cannot create a future for the human race is we force our children, and ourselves, to be limited by what others view as "safe" ideas.

If nothing else, it will have far more truth to it that Al Gore's fakumentary about Global Warming. Maybe Ben will get a Nobel Peace Prize and an Academy Award for this, too!

Why Public Schooling Is Better Than Homeschooling

This may be "old" news, but it is still good for a laugh!!

Memo: Top 10 Reasons to Criminalize Homeschooling
by Scott Ott for ScrappleFace

(2002-08-26) — In an effort to increase the public drumbeat for criminalizing homeschooling, California Deputy Superintendent Joanne Mendoza has distributed a memo containing the top 10 reasons why public schooling is better than homeschooling. Here is an excerpt from that memo:

Why Public Schooling Is Better Than Homeschooling

1. Most parents were educated in the underfunded public school system, and so are not smart enough to homeschool their own children.
   
2. Children who receive one-on-one homeschooling will learn more than others, giving them an unfair advantage in the marketplace. This is undemocratic.
   
3. How can children learn to defend themselves unless they have to fight off bullies on a daily basis?
   
4. Ridicule from other children is important to the socialization process.
   
5. Children in public schools can get more practice “Just Saying No” to drugs, cigarettes and alcohol.
   
6. Fluorescent lighting may have significant health benefits.
   
7. Publicly asking permission to go to the bathroom teaches young people their place in society.
   
8. The fashion industry depends upon the peer pressure that only public schools can generate.
   
9. Public schools foster cultural literacy, passing on important traditions like the singing of “Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg…”
   
10. Homeschooled children may not learn important office career skills, like how to sit still for six hours straight.
    

What Non-Homeschoolers May Not Know

Home education is an often misunderstood process. Kendra, a fellow home educating mom, has written a blog entry that outlines some info that is good to know by those homeschooling and especially those who are not.

What Non-Homeschoolers May Not Know

Enjoy!

Employment!

This is from another blog, but I love the idea. The only problem is that we don't have enough potential workers (kids). Plus, Kitty doesn't read. Yet!

Homeschool Employment from Boys in Tutus

Earthquake!

We were awaken this morning at 5:36 ET by a 5.4 magnitude earthquake that occurred 3 miles underground centered 61 miles North Northwest of Evansville, Indiana. The dogs barked and Jules cried out as she awoke. Fortunately, she went back to sleep, but Mommy could not. Maybe this is what caused this morning's headache.

Information from the US Geological Survey can be found here.

Pink? Really?

While this is not new, it is still amazing.

A rare pink bottle nose dolphin was spotted in a Louisiana lake in June 2007. You can see more of the story here.

More pictures of this incredible sight can be seen here, by the man who took the pictures.

16 Words!

We discovered today that Kitty can read 16 words! She didn't think she knew so many.

While that may not seem like a lot, it is a great accomplishment for someone who is learning to read.

Go Kitty!