Sunday, April 26, 2009

Constants in the Universe

It's nice to know there are some constants in the universe. Unchanging, unyielding and unthinking. Every problem is caused by someone else. My side is always right. The company has plenty of money. Capitalism is bad. Socialism is good. The government should solve all the problems. Yes, times change, but some attitudes remain.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Homeschooling in the Real Universe

Last Saturday we were at an event where we didn't need to explain why we home school our children. It was the annual Rideau Valley Home Educators Association conference. As usual, we had a blast. But outside of the conference, the question gets asked a lot. We had a babysitter who was explaining that they didn't have any classes on Friday because one of the students made death threats, and they had to cancel classes while the police tracked the guy down. On the way home from dropping her off, I passed a high school advertising that their students now could get a concentration in "Environmentalism" (good for getting a job as... well... well what would you get a job doing if you had a high school diploma with a concentration in environmentalism?". And then the report out of Britain that schools want to train their students to use Facebook and Twitter, and to make room they are cutting out History. Yes, the average high school student needs to take a course in learning to use Facebook! All of which is to say that when people ask me why I home school, I sometimes wonder what universe they live in.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Child Sues Parent Over Getting Grounded

This story has a lot of people scratching their heads, but it is indicative of where the liberal elite (including the unelected courts that feel free to redefine society through their interpretation of the Constitution) want to take this country.

The Appeals Court has warned other children not to think they can go to court just to avoid being grounded, but why wouldn't they think this. After all, if you can find someone with some money to hire your lawyer, why not make your bid for control of the family?

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Amazing

While the White House is denying it, the video doesn't lie; Barrack Obama, the POTUS, bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia. I thought that kind of thing didn't happen. Ever. But apparently I'm mistaken. Either that or Obama is in so far over his head that he doesn't have a clue.

Friday, April 03, 2009

A Winning Way

I have a winning way with people. It's a gift. I always know when to interject a little logic into a conversation, at the exact point in time when it is most educational. People love me for this. Sure, it's humiliating for them, but at least they have the joy of knowing that they are getting smarter.

Case in point, today while I was getting my hair cut. One of the hairstylists was asking the others what seven numbers to pick for the lottery. After a wide range of suggestions, I piped up, "How about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7?"

To give credit where credit is due, the hairstylist immediately recognized that the odds of winning with that set of numbers are the same as winning with any other randomly chosen seven numbers. But most people instinctively believe the chances of winning are greater with 6, 14, 17, 28, 33, 37, and 41. After all, we know we will never win with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. But people honestly think they have a good chance of winning with some other randomly picked set.

Having educated a whole salon full of people I stopped to admire myself in the mirror. Not only was my educational work complete, but I look wonderful with my new haircut.