wow! what a week!

1. Lady Visine>>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

2. I substituted in a class while I had a horrific cold. They needed me, honest! I just hope they gave it to me and not the other way around.

3. etainne@ efx2blogs is up, sort of. It used all of my free time on Wednesday, and then I accidentally reset something and lost all of the stuff I had... Ack... shoot!

4. I have to wonder about my loved ones. One is haveing a problem w/ her hubby, My grandmother needed a pacemaker upgrade. Can't really go see her since I have a cold.

5. Treasa has been really busy working on updating blogs and such. She is amazing.

6. Son of mine is being sneaky about his schoolwork. I cannot tell what his homework is or anything.

7. Thanks PD for everything! Thanks to Chica and others too!

8. Does anyone really have a favorite inexpensive lunch that I can take on campus for when the cafeteria food is inedible? Taking suggestions... I eat meat, no mayo, no cheese, veggies and pasta or fruit or grains are all ok.

jokes 2 go had another one I like

Dihydrogen Monoxide: The Invisible Killer

Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide!

Dihydrogen monoxide is colorless, odorless,

tasteless,and kills uncounted thousands of

people every year.

Most of these deaths are caused by accidental inhalation

of DHMO, but the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide do not

end there. Prolonged exposure to its solid form causes 

severe tissue damage. Symptoms of DHMO ingestion can

include excessive sweating and urination, and possibly

a bloated feeling, nausea, vomiting and body electrolyte 

imbalance. For those who have become dependent,

DHMO withdrawal means certain death.

Dihydrogen monoxide:

1. is also know as hydric acid, and is the 

major component  of acid rain
2. contributes to the "greenhouse effect"
3. may cause severe burns
4. contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape
5. accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals
6. may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness

of automobile brakes
7. has been found in excised tumors of terminal 

cancer patients

CONTAMINATION IS REACHING EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS!

Quantities of dihydrogen monoxide have been found

in almost every stream,lake and reservoir in America

today. But the pollution is global, and the
contaminant has even been found in Antarctic ice. 

DHMO has caused millions of dollars in property damage 

in the Midwest, and recently California.

Despite the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used:

- as an industrial solvent and coolant
- in nuclear power plants
- in the production of styrofoam
- as a fire retardant
- in many forms of cruel animal research
- in the distribution of pesticides; even after washing,

produce remains contaminated by this chemical
- as an additive in certain "junk-foods" and other food products

Companies dump waste DHMO into rivers and the ocean, and 

nothing can be done to stop them because this practice is

still legal. The impact on wildlife is extreme, and we 

cannot afford to ignore it any longer!

THE HORROR MUST BE STOPPED!

The American government has refused to ban the production

and distribution chemical due to its "importance to the

economic health of this nation". In fact, the navy and other

military organizations are onducting experiments with DHMO,

and designing multi-billion dollar devices to control and

utilize it during warfare situations. Hundreds of
military research facilities receive tons of it through

a highly sophisticated underground distribution network.

 Many store large quantities for later use.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE!

Act NOW to prevent further contamination!

Jokes 2 go offers this:

    New Chemical Element Discovered
     
   
The heaviest element known to science was recently discovered
by investigators at a major U.S. research university.
The element, tentatively named administratium, has no
protons or electrons and thus has an atomic
number of 0. However, it does have one neutron,
 125 assistant neutrons, 75 vice neutrons and
111 assistant vice neutrons, which gives it an atomic
mass of 312. These 312 particles are held together by
a force that involves the continuous exchange of
meson-like particles called morons.

Since it has no electrons, administratium is inert.
However, it can be detected chemically as it impedes
every reaction it comes in contact with.  According to
the discoverers, a minute amount of administratium
causes one reaction to take over four days to complete
when it would have normally occurred in less than a second.

Administratium has a normal half-life of approximately
three years, at which time it does not decay, but instead
undergoes a reorganization in which assistant neutrons,
vice neutrons and assistant vice neutrons exchange places.
Some studies have shown that the atomic mass actually
increases after each reorganization.

Research at other laboratories indicates that administratium
occurs naturally in the atmosphere. It tends to concentrate
at certain points such as government agencies, large corporations,
and universities. It can usually be found in the newest, best
appointed, and best maintained buildings.

Scientists point out that administratium is known to be toxic
at any level of concentration and can easily destroy any productive
reaction where it is allowed to accumulate. Attempts are being
made to determine how administratium can be controlled to prevent
 irreversible damage, but results to date are not promising.


Oh yea! definitely lots of this underfoot!

Through the eyes of the Moomin: Resuming Reading And Writing

Through the eyes of the Moomin: Resuming Reading And Writing

Friday was a bugger!

After I had just posted about how well my son was handling all of the commotion this year, I received letters from his teacher(ominous music in the background)
I was in no mood to put up with the complaints of a teacher who still uses methods from the 13th century. I wrote him a letter. wanna see it?

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you because I have noticed a disturbing trend in my son's reported behavior in your class. I have received three notes in the last week that indicate that my son's behavior is not ideal in your class. This raises concerns for me, which is, I am sure, the intent.

My fundamental question is- what is the main objective of these letters? To be more specific, what is your objective in class? What are your long-term goals regarding my son and the other children? What would you like these children to be long after they have left your class?

I, as a parent, am hoping that my son will become happy, caring, responsible, curious, and creative, and a lifelong learner. I want him to become a critical thinker with capable skills and not just someone who can answer standardized tests. In no way, shape, or form, do I want him to become someone who blindly obeys authority without question; who is compliant and docile. If that were the case, he could go to work for McDonald's now. I envision greater things for my son.

As I see it, it is up to both of us to create an ability in him to see how he is affecting others and give him alternative choices in his behaviors. I have raised him by giving him logical reasons for conformity. I try not to ask of him that he just “be seated, and refrain from talking” without having him examine how his behavior is radiating to the rest of the group. He does not respond well to controlling behaviors from authority, as you may have noticed. When given the opportunity, the motivations for his actions are usually altruistic, although lately, he has begun to be punitive as well. I am concerned that compliance and obedience are the main objective instead of moral and intrinsic motivations.

How can we hope for his behavior to become internalized if he is under the impression that he is in a no-win situation? How motivated would any of us be if we felt that way? I feel that the more we suppress his ability to see the way his actions are affecting others- the more we “manage” his behavior for him- the less he will be able to develop a moral sophistication that allows him to genuinely care about other people and make the correct decisions that come from thinking for himself. As for his “talking back” behavior, this is how I have related to him his whole life. He is asking for the logic behind the request, or offering a reason that he cannot comply with the request at that time. This may be because he has a specific need that is unfulfilled. This is your opportunity to help him re-examine his thought process and his conclusions. I have found that when he is given the specific reason(s) for a given behavior, he becomes compliant on his own. It becomes his idea and, internally, he has good reasons for the compliance.

What are you asking of him? Do you want a person who asks questions and seeks to find the answers? Do you want a person who makes responsible decisions? Do you want someone who helps others and has a sense of obligation towards society? Is the main goal limited to “sit quietly, don’t fool around, and get the work done?”

If it is the latter, I am sorry to bother you and I will instruct him about the reasons for that expediency. (and then I signed it)

So I gave one to the teacher, and to cover my hinney I gave one to the vice principal. The first one skimmed it but did not really read it. I was so offended. The second one read it and now has a plan of action that involves all of the teachers in the fifth grade. The complaining teacher said that ALL of the other teachers were having the same problems with my son. Well I know he's no angel and I know that he will never "sit down, shut up, and do his work" willingly. But i also know that when he is treated with respect and given the choice he can be as good as gold. He has good reason, based on empirical evidence, to mistrust teachers. Many of them in this town are terrible, and he knows it. His problem is that he has not yet earned to cover his distaste and do what needs to be done. This sounds awful, but he's pretty stuck up about people doing their job the best they can.He doesn't see that some people aren't as good as others even when they do their best. It's not just teachers, it's waitresses and post ofc workers, and Wal-mart employees, and grocery store clerks- and anyone who could obviously have done a better job, but didn't.

we'll see what happens