Aesop's Fable Friday

The Crow and the Pitcher

A thirsty Crow found a Pitcher with some water in it, but so little was there that, try as she might, she could not reach it with her beak, and it seemed as though she would die of thirst.

At last she hit upon a clever plan. She began dropping pebbles into the Pitcher, and with each pebble the water rose a little higher until at last it reached the brim, and the knowing bird was able to quench her thirst.

Moral of the story: Necessity is the mother of invention.

OR - as I say to the girls all the time, in the words of 'Gunny Highway' (played by the one and only Clint Eastwood in Heartbreak Ridge), Adapt! Improvise! Overcome! They are just sick to death of hearing me holler that!

"The Youth of Today...

is ever the people of tomorrow. For this reason we have set before ourselves the task of inoculating our youth with the spirit of this community of the people at a very early age, at an age when human beings are still unperverted and therefore unspoiled. This Reich stands, and it is building itself up for the future, upon its youth. And this new Reich will give its youth to no one, but will itself take youth and give to youth its own education and its own upbringing." Adolf Hitler, May 1 1937.

A report found on the Brussel's Journal detailed the hell of a German homeschooling family. The mother has been imprisoned and the father and children have fled the country. They are homeschooling their children and it has been illegal to do that in Germany since Hitler outlawed it.

"When an opponent declares, "I will not come over to your side," I calmly say, "Your child belongs to us already. . . . What are you? You will pass on. Your descendants, however, now stand in the new camp. In a short time they will know nothing else but this new community." Adolf Hitler Source: 1933, quoted in The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, "Education in the Third Reich"

I found an interesting outline on the web entitled Reshaping of Education and Retraining of Youth. It details the tactics used by, and the thought process behind, the Third Reich's seizure of control of education. Apparently the State is still hell bent on controlling education over there in the Fatherland - or Motherland - or whatever the hell they call it these days.

From what I can gather, there are atleast 40 families in Germany who are facing fines or jailtime for homeschooling their children. It is inconceivable to me that the state of Germany would consider enforcing this law that was brought into being by the animal we know as Adolf Hitler. It is a disgrace upon that nation that this law is still on the books.

I request that those of you who are concerned about these German families write to the German embassy and make your feelings known. Thanking you in advance for that, BTW.

The HSLDA said the German embassy can be reached by e-mail through its website, by telephone at 202-298-4000 or by mail at: Wolfgang Ischinger, Ambassador, German Embassy, 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC, 20007-1998.

I will leave you with one last quote from Hitler - and in this he is correct:
"The man who has no sense of history, is like a man who has no ears or eyes"


H/T Homeschool news.
H/T WND.
H/T Homeschool Legal Defense Assoc.

Tag - I'm It

Courtesy of that Sagacious Blonde in Philly.

FOUR JOBS THAT I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE....

1) Driver of a Roach Coach
2) Operating Room Technician
3) Silverware/Napkin roller at Furr's Cafeteria
4) Night Waitress at Sambos

FOUR MOVIES THAT I WOULD WATCH OVER AND OVER...

1) The Sound of Music
2) Pulp Fiction
3) Interview With a Vampire
4) ?

FOUR PLACES I HAVE LIVED.....

1) Colorado
2) Maine
3) Texas
4) Philly

FOUR TV SHOWS THAT I LOVE TO WATCH.....

1) The Avatar
2) Dr. Who - the new one
3) Kim Possible
4) Star Trek - The Next Generation

FOUR PLACES I HAVE BEEN ON VACATION....

1) Many places in FL
2) Sebago Lake, ME
3) Williamsburg, VA
4) Whitewater Rafting in CO

FOUR WEB SITES THAT I VISIT DAILY......

1) Drudgereport
2) Weather Underground
3) A Tangled Web
4) K12

FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS.....

1) Any kind of cake
2) Filet Mignon - medium rare
3) Hershey's Chocolate Bar - chilled
4) Pillsbury crescent rolls with extra butter

FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW.....

1) Getting an herbal body wrap
2) Getting a pedicure
3) In a hot tub
4) Floating near the beach in the Gulf of Mexico on a beautiful day - no sharks around.

I'm not tagging anybody! Aren't I bad?!

Aesop's Fable Friday. Or Rather, Saturday.

The Boy Bathing

A Boy was bathing in a river and got out of his depth, and was in great danger of being drowned.

A man who was passing along a road close by heard his cries for help, and went to the riverside and began to scold him for being so careless as to get into deep water, but made no attempt to help him.

"Oh, sir," cried the Boy, "please help me first and scold me afterwards!"

Moral of the story: Give assistance, not advice, in a crisis.

Oh how many times have I stopped to say "I told you so" to someone who screwed up. I am older now and realize how obnoxious it is to do that. (Plus, I've made a few doozies of my own!)

Moslems On The Rampage - and some other stuff.

It doesn't take much to get the Moslems to riot, threaten and burn things, does it? I am getting very tired of them. No apology necessary from the Pope as far as I am concerned. After much deliberation and hearing many sides of the whole 'Islam' thing I have decided that islam is a violent cult and nothing more. It is a dangerous movement to be sure. Neither can it be ignored nor can we cater to their insane whims and wishes. What does that leave us? A large clash, I am afraid. How is this all going to turn out?

The Aquifer Model: (aka - the other stuff)

I am unable to get a picture of it because something has happened to the digital camera - boohoo. On the bright side, it wasn't much to look at. I used a glass vase and had the kids pack the bottom with clay and then layer pea gravel, soil, and coarse sand. Then they poured a bit of water on top and we watched the water travel through the layers - all the time talking about porosity and permeability and then a short discussion on what the water table is. Then they used a pencil to drill down to the clay layer to simulate a well. A dropper was used to extract water from the well. The environmentalists will be happy to know that we also squirted food coloring (they chose green) on the top to illustrate how pollutants can seep into aquifers and affect the water that is there just waiting for us to drink. After awhile - - sure enough - - the water at the bottom was light green and the dropper drew up light green water as well. We then spoke of the memory that we had of the officials coming to scream at a neighbor of ours whose car engine decided to spew every last fluid in it's belly all over the street. It was quite a scene and the cleanup was very interesting. I'm sure it cost a fortune as it involved 3 municipal workers spreading what looked like kitty litter all over the spill and then the street sweeper paid a visit to vacuum it all up.

Here is a link - and I hope that it actually works - to a map I made of US Aquifers. This is a great site - you are able to make maps for just about anything with as many 'layers' of information that you would like. It is National Atlas (.gov) Enjoy the pretty colors!

Aesop's Fable Friday

The Fox Without a Tail

A Fox once fell into a trap, and after a struggle managed to get free, but with the loss of his tail.

He was then so much ashamed of his appearance that he thought life was not worth living unless he could persuade the other Foxes to part with their tails also, and thus divert attention from his own loss.

So he called a meeting of all the Foxes, and advised them to cut off their tails: "They're ugly things anyhow," he said, "and besides they're heavy, and it's tiresome to be always carrying them about with you."

But one of the other Foxes said, "My friend, if you hadn't lost your own tail, you wouldn't be so keen on getting us to cut off ours."

Moral of the story: Beware of those who wish to bring you down, not up.

Hey - I know people who've tried that old trick!

It's been a busy week. Lots of school - today we will be building a model of an aquifer I suppose. I will let you know how it comes out.

One of my brothers is in critical condition right now - he had a stroke. He is also suffering from a heart problem that they were blaming on thyroid levels but it appears that is not the cause. They are not sure of anything right now. If you are the praying type I would appreciate if you could offer a few words up to the Big Guy about this situation.

I Remember James M. Roux

James Roux was aboard United Airlines Flight 175, which crashed into the trade center's south tower. He was on the way to to Northern California to work for his brother David. An avid trekker, Roux, 42, was so fond of Nepal that he established an office in Katmandu with a Nepalese partner. Roux had recently begun to represent Sherpa guides, hoping to raise their profiles by finding roles for them in Asian advertising.

Roux practiced law in Hartford and Portland, Maine, and was a litigator who helped several families affected by asbestos exposure and lead poisoning. He served three years in the Army and was a decorated paratrooper. Family members described Roux as a ``devoted father, avid mountain climber, fly fisherman and musician.'' He is survived by two sons, his mother and stepfather, four sisters and a brother.


"Jimmy Roux was my best friend growing up, and he's an interesting guy." David Davis, a West Los Angeles man who had known Roux since they attended third grade in 1967 in Lewiston, Maine.

"He was just one of those guys you'd love to see every day," said Mike Weston, a bartender at the Ale House. "He was sort of like a frat boy inside the body of a 45-year-old."

"I am the mother of a clientof his he was representing my 4 YR. old and 12 YR. OLD too in a lead poisoning case he was a very decent man he was funny, caring, treated my sons as if they were his and cared for there well beeing I will never forget him I am glad to have known him it very hurtful than anyone can take as many innocent lives that is unforgiveable my prayers go to his family and exspecially his son's that had one decent father I am very proud to have known him to say again we should get the party's who did this on these innocent people and there family's God Bless America may my prayers be with you and we will get them for what they have done to us." Loriann Elenor Mackenzie

"I was a newly assigned paralegal paratrooper assigned to The Army's 18th Airborne Corps Artillery at Fort Bragg while then Captain James M. Roux was an Army Judge Advocate assigned as our jurisdictional trial counsel. I worked with him extensively and was extremely impressed by his competence and devotion to our country. I learned alot from him and remember that we often talked about the fact that he was from Maine where I was born while my father was based there in the Air Force. He was a great leader and often talked about the fact that he too once was an Army Paralegal in the reserves while going to law school. My deepest regards go out to his family. He was a great human being that left a positive lasting impression on me." Thomas G. Curry

"Dear Jim, I just learned today that you were taken from this life in such a tragic,unfair way last year. I rememeber being your classmate some 25 years ago,sharing English and Social Studies classes, and being involved with Key Club instead of Interact. I remember all of those football games, Interact vs. Key Club. I remember driving with Andre from Lewiston to Bowdoin to visit you in your junior year. We got there at a funny time. I also remember your keen intellect and incisive sense of humor. I remember you reading one of your older brother's letters from South America. I remember having fun in Physics with Mr. Jacobs and in Ms. Kirk's class. I remember Davis Mtn. and the parties. I remember you signing my year book, Merle Haggard. I hope all is well with your family. I wish you well old friend." Joe Gauthier

"I just learned today that Jim was lost on September 11. I was 18 and had just graduated from high school when I was sent to Indiana by the army reserve for paralegal school. Jim was in law school at the time and also spending the summer going through the same course. He took me under his wing and taught me so much about how to prepare for my upcoming college life. That summer he was a true mentor to me. I took his advice about school, fraternities, parties, studying, what was cool, and in the end he helped me to become the person I am today. We last spoke about 4 years ago. He was a wonderful person." Jack Jakubiak

"I am just finding out that you were on flight 175.We went to basic training together back in 1982,Ft Leonardwood,Mo.I remember you showing me the photo of your family on the hull of a beautiful boat,and I asked "What in the world are you doing here?"and your reply was becoming a soldier.Thats my"Main man from Maine"
I wish I had looked for you earlier." Master Sergent Todd

"Dear Jim, We loved the way that you brightened our day with your calm presence and the patience of a buddah. We miss parking next to you and listening to you blasting Jimi Hendrix from any stereo or amp that you could find. You left a lot friends and family behind, but your boys will always know that you are a hero. I love and miss you." A.J. Riseman, friend

"If there was ever a champion of the underdog, it was Jim Roux. He was my friend, neighbor, confidant and attorney. In Portland, Maine, Jim would take cases pro bono so that justice could be served. He was leaving for the West Coast that fateful day so that he could start a job that paid better, as his personal funds were running low due to philanthropy. He would champion the cause of kids with Lead Paint Poisoning, would jump on the stage of the local alehouse and jam, or set off bottle rockets or drop plastic paratroopers from the roof of his apartment building with his sons. He cared. Jimmy, we miss you and we love you." Russ Riseman, friend

"He was a good man, a good brother, dad, son and friend. He loved playing his guitar. He was also a terrific lawyer. Mostly I think, he was a smart, gentle person..."




We will never forget. We honor your life and the good that you left behind. Our hearts were broken. God bless your soul. God Bless America.




Quilt square image used with permission.

Aesop's Fable Friday

The Fox and the Grasshopper

A Grasshopper sat chirping in the branches of a tree. A Fox heard her, and, thinking what a dainty morsel she would make, he tried to get her down by a trick.

Standing below in full view of her, he praised her song in the most flattering terms, and begged her to descend, saying he would like to make the acquaintance of the owner of so beautiful a voice.

But she was not to be taken in, and replied, "You are very much mistaken, my dear sir, if you imagine I am going to come down: I keep well out of the way of you and your kind ever since the day when I saw numbers of Grasshoppers' wings strewn about the entrance to a Fox's hole."

Moral of the story: Flattery should get you nowhere.

What a smart little Grasshopper to heed what she has seen with her own eyes. Many people look but refuse to see.

A Very Christian Christmas Wish for the ACLU

My favorite Aunt in Maine sent this to me in an email. I love the idea and I am going to do it. I hope that you do, too.

Fun with the ACLU......(American Liberties Civil Union) Wanna have some fun this CHRISTMAS? Send the ACLU a CHRISTMAS CARD this year.

As they are working so very hard to get rid of the CHRISTMAS part of this holiday, we should all send them a nice, CHRISTIAN, card to brighten up their dark, sad, little world.

Make sure it says "Merry Christmas" on it

Here's the Address, just don't be rude or crude. (It's Not the Christian Way, you know!)

ACLU

125 Broad Street

18th Floor New York, NY 10004

Spend 39 cents and tell the ACLU to leave Christmas alone. Also tell them that there is no such thing as a "Holiday Tree". . . . It's a Christmas Tree even in the fields!!

Pass it on!

Aesop's Fable Friday

The Donkey and His Driver

A Donkey was being driven down a mountain road, and after jogging along for a while sensibly enough, he suddenly left the track and rushed to the edge of a precipice.

He was just about the leap over the edge when his Driver caught hold of his tail and did his best to pull him back: but pull as he might he couldn't get the Donkey to budge from the brink.

At last the Driver gave up, crying, "All right, then, get to the bottom your own way; but it's the way to sudden death as you'll find out quick enough."

Moral of the story: A willful beast must go his own way.