Rocks, Stones And Pebbles Are We

There's some great reading available at The Black Republican. He refers to the Glenn Reynolds book: An Army of Davids: How Markets and Technology Empower Ordinary People to Beat Big Media, Big Government, and Other Goliaths.

Those of us in the blogosphere not big enough to actually sling the big missiles, we are the rocks. Those of you who don't actually blog yourselves but just use blogs as a source of news and information, you are the rocks. We are the ones that make the impact, the ones who make sure the shots from the Davids are felt by the Goliaths. Oh, we little Davids may occasionally take a shot or two ourselves, but our real value lies elsewhere. By bringing up issues at home, work, or school and using arguments advanced by the New Media (whatever your viewpoint), by holding elected officials accountable for their actions with information gleaned from blogs, by writing letters to newspaper editors, by informing friends, family, and coworkers about the issues that affect their everyday lives that otherwise gets hidden or overlooked by the MSM, we ensure that those shots fired by the Davids actually strike flesh. The choice of those "five smooth stones" by David was of critical importance, as is the impact each of us can have.

I like that metaphor. I've often been discouraged by the news and felt that my one small blog is insignificant. However, a single rock can have a big impact, but the greater impact is all those rocks together.

But as time has passed we rocks have become more polished, smooth, hard, and have learned to be self directed... and our impact is being felt. Expect the leftist Philistines to become more and more anxious as they begin to see their champion Goliaths - big Government, the MSM, Hollywood, Academia - suffer a death from a thousand cuts.

An Army of Davids: How Markets and Technology Empower the Little Guy to Beat Big Media, Big Government, and Other Goliaths

Others writing on An Army of Davids: Technosight Blog, Outside The Beltway, Old Controller, Shooting the Messenger, Michelle Malkin, The Truth Laid Bear, Politics and Religion, Atlas Shrugs, Expose the Left, SoxBlog, The Cigar Intelligence Agency, PelicanPost, The Anchoress, TigerHawk, The Bookcast, Badger Blog Alliance, Gathering In Light, One Hand Clapping

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Santa Cruz: Illegal Immigration Cesspool

Excerpt: The city of Santa Cruz, which often takes controversial approaches to social issues, has now established what is believed to be the nation's first hotline for day laborers -- most of whom are undocumented -- to report unscrupulous employers.

Weblog: Freedom FolksTracked: 03.07.06 - 9:01 am

Islamophobia? Yes! Islamohatred? No!

I admit it. I am Islamophobic. That doesn't mean I hate Muslims or the Islam religion. It means simply that I fear what Islam has become. I fear Islam because of the the radical, irrational, beheading, murdering and pillaging Muslims that are shown in the news. I fear them because they carry signs declaring that they would kill us without a second thought simply because we are not Muslim. I fear them because of the Muslim mother who sent sons on suicide missions and said she wished she had more sons to sacrifice for Allah. I fear them because some of their leaders have encouraged the ones in other countries to blend into western society in order to gain trust to later help with terrorist activities.

I think any non-Muslim in his/her right mind is Islamophobic. It is a smart thing to be in today's world. It isn't an irrational fear, but a fear based on widespread real and visible evidence of unstable and irrational Islamic behavior.

Islamophobic is not Islamohatred. I don't hate Muslims. I hate some of them - yes. But as a group, I don't hate them. I think that the large majority of them were likely born into the religion and don't realize how destructive it has become. They know only what they are being told by the radical and murderous leaders.

We should be proud to be Islamophobic. Only idiots wouldn't be.

You can check out Wikipedia for a thorough description of Islamophobia.

There is Islamophobia Watch: Documenting the war against Islam.

Others writing on Islamophobia: The Anchoress, FaithFreedom, Michelle Malkin, Sister Toldjah, Power Line, Captain's Quarters, Blue Star Chronicles, Atlas Shrugs, All Things Beautiful, Pedestrian Infidel, Right Truth, Water Cooler Wisdom, The Fall of Jericho, Mark Levin Fan, Infidel Bloggers Alliance, Cox & Forkum, Infinite Monkeys, Gina Cobb, Protein Wisdom, Jihad Watch, My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, Mudville Gazette, Little Green Footballs, Iraq The Model.

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What does it really mean to be Islamophobic or xenophobic?
Excerpt: The terms "Islamophobia" and "xenophobia" are being tossed around and thrown at Americans like wet toilet paper to the ceiling of a boy's highschool bathroom, and some of it is sticking. It's sticking only because we let it, only because. . .
Weblog: Right TruthTracked: 03.07.06 - 7:17 am

A Day in the Life of a Reading Teacher

It's Monday morning. The alarm clock rings at 6:15. I'm showered, dressed, and ready to leave by 7:15 - coffee in the cup-holder and bagel on the seat beside me. It's a forty minute drive. During that time, I listen to talk radio, eat my bagel, sip my coffee, and enjoy the mostly scenic drive.

7:55 Arrive at school. I put my lunch in my little classroom refrigerator, put on name tag, check to make sure things are ready for my first reading group. Then I head to the gym.

8:10 I'm in the gym for morning bus duty. I remark to the other monitor that the kids are unusually quiet this morning. Each day seems to take on its own personality. Mondays are often calm with the children getting more rambunctious as the week progresses. One little girl in kindergarten who has had a difficult time in getting along with the other children, is calm and well-behaved this morning. I give her a "high flyer" card to hopefully encourage the good behavior (Alfie Cohn would disapprove).

8:35 A.M. Immediately after the Pledge of Allegiance and the daily announcements, five fourth graders came to my room for a reading group. Full of energy except for S. She seems a little quiet. I decide to ignore it for now and see how things go. We get started on our lesson. They ASK to write in their journals, and that's the first thing on our agenda. As the other children start writing, I see that S is just sitting there - staring off into space. "What's wrong?" I ask. "Do you feel ok?" Her reply: "I'm bored." Quite honestly, I think "burned out" would be a better description. She goes to school all day, comes to me for reading, and then three days a week she stays after school for a 90-minute reading clinic. I don't blame her. I'd feel like a zombie at times, too. I work with her for a few minutes and she gets involved in writing in her journal and doesn't seem so "bored" anymore. She is probably still bored and is just putting on show to keep from hurting my feelings. Elementary children still care about such things.

9:45 A.M. My third grade group bursts into the room. One child, K, is coughing. A lot. I pass hand sanitizer around to everyone - a fairly regular practice of mine. I believe it cuts down on the number of colds and viruses I get. K tells me that it's his birthday, he doesn't feel good, and he has to go to the dentist this afternoon. I sympathize, and then I ask the children to share about their weekend. I get the usual responses: "I went to WalMart and got a new game for my PS2." "My friend came over and we played." "My uncle took us for a ride on his four-wheeler." Then it is K's turn. I will give you an exact quote:

"I was coughing really bad and I drank a Dr. Pepper and it turned into an ooze - a goo - and clogged up my throat. And that's why I'm coughing so much."

Okay, that explains that!

10:30 My second grade group. My biggest challenge when it comes to behavior. I feel guilty writing that because there are only four children in the group. However, L and B are in that group, and they're a handful. Sweet as can be, but mischievous and loud. They ask for hand sanitizer, and I pass it around. As the children tell me about what they have done since we met last Friday, B listens to the others. Then he says: (another exact quote)

"I went to the animal store and got three dogs. My mom said to get something for my sister. So I got her a raccoon and when she saw it, she yelled. So I had to put it back in its cage and I got her a rabbit."

THREE dogs? A raccoon? A rabbit? Is he serious? I look at him, and it seems obvious from his expression that he is lying. But there is also a look in his eyes that begs for acceptance. I see no benefit in calling him on it. I smile, comment on the number of animals he got and we go into our lesson.

11:15 My student from the Ukraine. We've come a long way, and I see real progress today. He reads on grade level for the first time. Yes, it is painfully slow and tedious. The material is too difficult for him. However, it is a text he wants to read because he is interested in it (animals with poisonous venom), and he actually figures out most of the unfamiliar words on his own. Painstaking, but definite progress.

11:45 Here come my kindergarteners. This is a group of high-achieving girls - an absolutely delightful group. They're just a little older than Sweet Stuff, and everytime I look at them, I think of Sweet Stuff. Today we read two Level C books, and they do a great job. I give them Dr. Seuss stickers (Yes, I know Alfie Cohn would disapprove again) and high fives, and they are thrilled. It ends my morning on a high note.

12:30 Lunch is a bowl of chili - leftover from dinner last night and heated up in the microwave in my classroom. Quick trip to the restroom, and some work on a book order I must complete and send to the central office by Wednesday.

1:15 My first grade group. I hear one little boy before he even gets inside the classroom - cute as can be but with a shrill voice. As he walks in he announces loudly: "I have to go to the bathroom. It's an emergency!" I'm sure all the classrooms in our hall hear his proclamation and are relieved when I give him my blessings for a trip down the hall to the bathroom. He walked past two bathrooms to get from his classroom to mine but felt he had to get my permission before going. And that's a good thing since I DO have to know where they are at all times.

2:00 Another quick walk down the hallway to the ladies room, and then back to the classroom for some paperwork.

2:30 My fifth grade group. I love all the children I work with, but this fifth grade group has five boys who each have an enjoyable sense of humor. The only girl in the group (also with a funny sense of humor) is absent today. The fifth graders keep me on my toes because they're so full of energy and all that pre-puberty exuberance. They're FUNNY, and we have a good time together. They love to read aloud to the group and ask to do it each time they come to my room - their choice of material. Of course I encourage it. So we all listen as one reads some jokes, another reads a page from The Stupids Step Out (fifth grade humor, without a doubt!), and another reads a couple pages from a book about helicopters. Then we work on some test-taking skills - reading a passage and answering questions about the text. They read the text perfectly, but all five of them bomb in answering the multiple-choice questions - questions dealing with main idea and details. Except for the main idea question, the questions are just simple "right there" questions. We talk about each question and how to find the answers. It is a struggle, and it is obvious what we need to work on during our next class.

3:20 The fifth graders go back to their homerooms and afternoon announcements are made over the intercom

3:30 The bell rings and the children are walked to either the bus line or the car line. I don't have afternoon duty, and so my work with the children is finished for the day. I complete some paperwork and finish writing comments in some of the children's journals.

3:45 The official end of the day for me. I gather my things, turn out the lights, lock the door, and head home. Another day of school finished. It has been a good one.

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Time for a coffee transfusion Excerpt: ...Weblog: third world county
Tracked: 03.07.06 - 3:30 am

Winter Camping and Weekend Fun

PawPaw and I went camping last night on our land out in the country. The difference this time is that there is now a road through the property and right up to the campsite. The last time we camped there we had to carry our camping supplies down a hill and then up another. That included carrying firewood. We didn't get there last night until it was dark, but since we were in PawPaw's jeep, it didn't matter. We got the fire started and just enjoyed sitting there on the hill breathing in the fresh air and looking out at the countryside all around us. We listened to a pack of coyotes bark and howl. If you've never heard the sound of coyotes, it's kinda spooky sounding at times. This morning we listened to what sounded like dozens of wild turkeys gobbling and clucking.

Dinner was delicious. I had gone by Publix and bought stew beef, onions, potatoes and carrots. So I made beef stew. I brought my large cast iron skillet, and we cooked the stew directly on the fire. Yum! We wrapped a couple rolls in aluminum foil and placed them next to the fire to warm. Cooking out over a fire make food taste so good. We had brought all the ingredients for s'mores just in case either of the kids and their families could come visit for awhile. However, Scalawag is sick again, and Stinkeroo needed to get the kids to bed early. So I now had graham crackers, marshmallows and Hershey bars stashed away for the next camping trip.

After dinner we set up the tent and got everything ready for bed. Then we just sat out by the fire and talked for a long time. We boiled water and made hot chocolate for PawPaw and herbal tea for me. Soooo relaxing. Then we went to bed. The temperature was in the mid-twenties last night -- and I felt it. I've never slept with a hat on, but last night I did. Not only did I sleep with a hat on, but I pulled it down so it entirely covered my face - but my nose was still cold! My sleeping bag is supposedly a 20 degree bag, and PawPaw's is a 15-degree bag. But we both were cold. However, it wasn't an unbearable cold.

For the first couple hours I was warm except for my butt. I could NOT get my rear warm! I finally decided that the only explanation is that my last minute necessary visit behind a tree before bed cooled it off and it took awhile for it to regain some heat. Does that even make sense? But why else would that be the only part of me that was cold? Finally the cold shifted to my feet, and I was warm except for my feet. So the night was filled with restless sleep. But the sun dawned beautifully, and we both felt great despite a less than perfect night's sleep.

We got out the cast iron skillet again for breakfast - bacon with onions and green peppers and hash brown potatoes. I tried canned biscuits again -- and out of the ten biscuits, we were able to salvage four that were not burned to a crisp or still doughy. So breakfast was wonderful, too. And the coffee we made over the fire -- absolutely perfect. After walking around the land for awhile, we packed everything up again.

We spent all morning and early afternoon burning brush piles on the land. PawPaw was able to get a burn permit for today but not for tomorrow. So he's trying to get all of it burned today. It doesn't SOUND like a big job, but it is. He's still out there burning right now.

Another successful and fun camping trip is over. Tonight we're babysitting Sweet Stuff and Sunshine for a couple hours so their parents can go out to dinner. I'm looking forward to that.

I think we're joining Hillsboro UMC tomorrow morning. I really like the small church and country atmosphere of that church. Last Sunday they had an old-fashioned community songfest, and it was so enjoyable. There's just nothing like those old hymns.

I LIVE for the weekends. This one has been wonderful so far.

Jay Bennish - Communist Agent for Colorado Schools

Coming home from school today, I listened to the news about Jay Bennish, a 10th grade geography teacher who taught communism and anti-Bush, anti-America thinking along with (or in place of) his geography lessons: Here's a summary of what he taught in the taped lesson that is being played and replayed on the radio, TV and Internet.

(1) He compares Bush to Hitler.
(2) He thinks capitalism is at odds with human rights, caring and compassion.
(3) He teaches that the US government working WITH the government of another country to try to decrease the amount of illegal crops justifies other countries coming to the U.S. and destroying legal tobacco-producing areas.
(4) He teaches that the U.S. is the worst terrorist country in the world.

And those are only the highlights of his lesson. I read through the transcript of the lesson and if I hadn't been TOLD it was a geography class, I never would have guessed it.

When the student who was secretly taping the class disagreed with him, he accepted the disagreement and then very "reasonably" explained why the student was wrong and quickly brought the lesson back to the U.S. and Israel being the real terrorists. It was this calm, outward acceptance and consideration of the student's questions and then turning it around on the student that bothered me the most.

As a long-time public school teacher, I have always been aware of the tremendous influence I have on the children I teach. Children identify with their teachers, and they often emulate them. Sometimes when kids are going through their adolescent rebellion phase, they are prone to trust teachers before their parents. Teaching is an absolutely mind-boggling responsibility.

I wrote awhile back about the book Children's Story by James Clavell. The story covers one class period in an elementary classroom. Although there is no direct correlation between the story and what Jay Bennish did in the classes he taught, there are some similarities that are striking and chilling. As I said before, Children's Story is a quick read - maybe 30 - 45 minutes at the most. It's worth the effort, and it will make you consider the power of the classroom teacher.

Further reading on the Jay Bennish story: Michelle Malkin, The American Check-up, Plains Feeder, The Political Dogs, The Defiance, Is This Blog On?, Severe Writers Block, Survival Theory, Intercepts, The Education Wonks, Conservative Thinking, Right Wing Nation, The Uncooperative Blogger, Freedom Folks, Tundra Tabloids

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Thursday Thirteen - Thirteen Books for Read Across America Week

Thirteen Books to Read for Read Across America Week I'm a reading teacher, and books are a major part of my life. Here are thirteen of my favorites - some for children - some for adults - and a combination of genres 1. The Giver by Lois Lowry (I first read this as an adult and was thoroughly captivated by the story. A futuristic story for mature upper elementary children) 2. Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco (A true Civil War story from Polacco's family. I can't get through it without crying. Even more touching because it's true. Great for all ages) 3. Summer My Father Was Ten by Pat Brisson (for elementary age children - a story about respect, neighbors, and making amends and learning from mistakes) 4. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (for upper elementary children - a story of survival in the Canadian wilderness) 5. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl (About Frankl's experience in Nazi concentration camps, and what he learned from it) 6. The Good Earth by Pearl Buck (I first read this in high school and still remember it clearly. Set in China - a tale of survival and hardship and priorities) 7. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children #1) by Jean Auel (I read this when it first came out many years ago. It's the best one of the series) 8. Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren (Provides a plan for a purposeful life) 9. Whoever You Are by Mem Fox (I love the rhythm of this book for young children) 10. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (I read this in high school, too, and it still remains a favorite) 11. Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss (A classic for all ages. Children love the rhymes and sillines) 12. Frindle by Andrew Clements (For upper elementary children - how even children can change the world) 13. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg (Stimulates the imagination - wonderful inspiration for writing) Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Norma 2. Shelli 3. YellowRose 4. Mel 5. owlhaven 6. Jen 7. Kimmy 8. Ruth 9. Joan 10. Jane 11. LadyBug 12. Elle 13. Moe 14. Lyn 15. Stacie 16. Enigma 17. Mama B. 18. Chickadee 19. Jane (better safe than sorry) 20. mar 21. Denise 22. kdubs 23. Lazy Daisy 24. d. challener roe (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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Carnival of Education - Week 56

The Carnival of Education, Week 56 is up at The Education Wonks. I have just spent a good chunk of my morning reading some of the posts. There is one on testing that just floored me! Take a stroll down the midway and enjoy some great reading.