Carnival of Chaos~ November 2011

Welcome to the Carnival of Chaos! It has been a busy couple of months for me and in the world. Occupy has spread worldwide. The American media, as well as the police, have shown that they are no better than any of the countries we like to demonize. I would like to remember that courageous group of NYPD in Albany that stood down and denied orders arrest the peaceful demonstrators!

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If you are part of the 99% and have a story or comment for the 1% then you can go here! Write to those that are in the 1%, this is my letter....

Greetings,
I have six children 5-16 yrs. and live off of $12-15,000 a year. As you can imagine this is a difficult task. I home school all of them, so my money has to do a lot. Paper, pencils, crayons and books are expensive in my reality. I buy all our clothes at a thrift store or Salvation Army. Just about the ONLY new thing we buy are socks and underwear. The only way we make it is because we receive food stamps. (for that the hoops are many and I see how many deserving families can not do it). It is about $1000 a month to feed all eight of us. I challenge you to feed eight people on that! And make it healthy!
Last week my husbands paycheck bounced. It then began the roll of fees in the banks and with those bills that we paid out on the funds. It will take us weeks to catch up and we will have to do without.
I wonder if you live paycheck to paycheck? What do you struggle with ?
I consider myself blessed to be able to educate my children and to afford a roof over my head(we have been homeless).There are others who have less than us.
I believe deeply that a roof,food, health care and access to equal education are rights not a commodity for the highest bidder. Profit is a well educated and healthy community not a large bank account. If you think we are asking to spread the poverty then yes, in a sense we are. I think you and those in your reality could do with less and the rest of us could do much better with a little more!
What do you believe? What God do you follow?What doctrine do you spread by your actions and life style?
"Once I was in Victoria, and I saw a very large house. They told me it was a bank and that the white men place their money there to be taken care of, and that by and by they got it back with interest. "We are Indians and we have no such bank; but when we have plenty of money or blankets, we give them away to other chiefs and people, and by and by they return them with interest, and our hearts feel good. Our way of giving is our bank."
Chief Maquinna, Nootka

May you be granted wisdom to accompany your knowledge.

I would also ask for all to remember Scott Olsen who was at the Oakland Occupy. A soldier of two tours in Iraq returned unharmed to be brutalized in his own country by those that live off of his tax dollars for exercising his First Amendment rights. Truth is stranger than fiction!

In my personal life, the bees were taken to the fields and the gardens are still being planted. The winter greens are so delicious. Halloween is tonight, I am wring ahead of post. The kids are in their costumes already(9AM!) and I have a birthday,turning 10!, tomorrow. Skate boarding has become a new obsession with the boys, any mode of transport is great with me.

Our submissions this time are quite wonderful. Take the time to visit and leave a comment that tells them where you found their link!

What I do for Eden

tecatti.com presents How to be limitless- Day 1 posted at Tecatti.

Jake Moses presents TeachMe Kindergarten review | Best Kid Ipad Apps posted at Best Kid Ipad Apps, saying, "In-depth review of a spectacular educational app for kids aged 4-6."

If you must spend $ but if you do not have enough to spend on iPad stuff look for open source!

It's Art

Danette M. Schott presents Secret Agent Society for Social Skills posted at Help! S-O-S for Parents.

A fun idea for any kid!

Chaos

Rebecca Turner presents How Your Perception of The World Map is Wrong posted at 1000 Weird Facts.

This is good stuff! For too long we have seen the world from the wrong view! We are the ones 'down under"!

Laura Grace Weldon presents Fun Theory posted at Laura Grace Weldon, saying, "Fun is highly individual. It can’t be easily pre-packaged, even though promoters of textbooks, curricula, and enrichment programs assert their products do just that."

Laura is right but what will you do about it? Someone once said "If you want your child to go to Harvard,send them outside to play". I am usually annoyed by forum moms/teachers that are sure they need the next new edu toy. The trees are my kids toys!

Rose presents No Routine posted at Learning at Home.Some good advice for all of us!

Natural learning can facilitate formal learning.

Jailan Marie presents Idle Thoughts, I Don’t Think So, posted at Innovative Solutions For Positive Change.

JamescReedJr. presents The Razor Blade: Morning Tea posted at The Razor Blade, saying, "Great little article on being a writer. Blog is a philosophical in nature but the writer ties everything together in a way that is easily understood."

Thoughts of a young man.

Aloysiusmenulis presents Can Civil Disobedience ever be moral? posted at aloysiusmenulis.

I believe it is more than moral, it is our duty!

                                                                                                                         Katie Gilbert presents 11 Important Leaders in LGBT Education posted at Best Online Colleges.com, saying, "LGBTQIA individuals and organizations still have a ways to go before they can enjoy full equality in today's society, but that doesn't mean accomplishments and milestones pushing them towards broader acceptance should ever go ignored or unacknowledged."

William Hambleton Bishop, MA presents The Oppression of Creativity and Progression | How regulation, oversight, managed care, and “Big Brother” oppress growth | thoughts from a therapist posted at Thoughts from a Therapist, saying, "this is a post about how regulation hinders creativity... it is a call to do things many ways instead of the"right way.""

Acumen Associates presents Dolch Sight Word Activities – Irregular Verbs posted at sight words game.

And so I say go in peace but when peace is not possible fight for the greater good!

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of chaos using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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Migration Celebration

Once again it is migration time.  The signs of the changing seasons.  The end and the beginning. We become citizen scientists and report our findings. What better way to study science! Live the science!

We look for our visitors around mid-August. The Ruby Throated Hummingbird is a welcome sight. We all love to see the flight of our friends. Their mid-air antics are par none.

Because we live in the South, we wait for the first sighting to put out feeders. The syrup, a 1:4 sugar to water mix, goes bad quick in the heat. No red dye,please!  We report to a great
 "Immature Male"          
site, Journey North/South. It is full of great features for the learning of science.

We report our sightings at least once a week. We have the camera out for observing later. All the while, the kids think this is fun. Even when they are being as still as they can to get close to a Hummy!

My five year old will stand waiting for at least five minutes. Just on the chance the bird will come close.We have out just three feeders but grow flowers and have water out which helps them come back year after year. But this does mean it is hazardous to walk through the yard! Hummingbirds are stunt pilots that come within a hair's breadth of anyone . Regardless of the full laundry basket in my hands!

Hummies are not the only migration minded animal, we watch for the Monarch butterfly, too. No feeders but 'un-paving the way' for our friends helps them out. A yard of grass is not good either, plants and permaculture gardens. Monarchs depend on milkweed, no good if you have livestock.

"Monarch"                 

Monarchs are also on Journey South! there is so much right with this site that I urge everyone pick a topic they enjoy for their area and be a scientist!

My minions are outside,rain or shine cold or hot. This gives them the opportunity to slow down a bit and smell the flowers!

I will leave you with a few pictures. What do you think?

Empowered Birth Awareness Week & Carnival Of Chaos Sept. 3,2011!

The Carnival of Chaos shares the stage this time. We have wonderful contributions in all categories. But this time around ........

The first week of September is Empowered Birth Awareness Week (3rd -15th). A week devoted to child-birth at home or in birthing centers with midwives or doulas. Natural and gentle outside the artificial confines of the hospital. Child-birth and pregnancy are not diseases and should not be treated as such.

This week is devoted to telling the experiences of those that in the taking back of a woman's and her family's experience in the birth of a child. My family are some of those and this is part of our story.

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When I was very young I was appalled at the films of animals giving birth. It looked horrible to me. Yuk! I vowed to never have kids. My parents laughed.I was one of six children, the fifth in line. When I was curious I would ask Mom about her births of us. She told stories of doctors, hospitals, drugs, nurses and of Dad dropping her off. She could remember the start of labor but was given spinals and that would be the end of the labor memory. When asked about breastfeeding she said she tried  it once but it hurt too bad.Actually, she said I bit her! She never questioned that this was the way to have children. So, I asked where she was born.... Her answer?

At home on the couch!

These memories stayed with me. When I was in my twenties my roommate got pregnant. Together we went to doctors appointments and childbirth classes. Talk about stares! Two girls, not a husband or boyfriend, were a strange sight in class. But I couldn't let her go through this alone, she wanted me there and I was happy to help.

When the big day arrived off we went to the hospital. I remember a cold environment. No doctor was around. The nurses were professional but not what you might call warm. We were strangers in a strange place. As labor progressed my friend was confined to the bed. we did our best breathing. Remember to breath!

In hard labor the nurses helped, measured and instructed. Then suddenly the doctor appeared. Legs up, a quick (big) cut,baby out and bye, bye doc!

I think the man was there a total of three minutes. I did not know anything about child birth then, but I knew that what I was experiencing with my roommate was NOT right.The baby was put under lights,measured and wiped. Not for about 20-30 minutes did the new mom touch her baby. The whole feeling of everything that happened was wrong.

Fast forward  a few years. It is now me that is pregnant. Luckily, through the years I had met people who had home births andI now lived in Austin ,Texas, a progressive, hippy friendly, midwife loving city. Still uneducated in the nuances of , the midwife that returned my call

[caption id="attachment_941" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="My home birth baby"][/caption]

was surprising and wonderful. Her first words were of congratulations and concern for me. This stranger, over the phone, conveyed such love and understanding that I could not wait to meet her. Not once was money or payment a concern.

Melanie's office was her home, complete with children, babysitters, guinea pigs and assistants.The exam room was a spare bedroom. The first appointment was not only about me but about her. How long has she been a midwife, how many babies did she deliver, how she became a midwife, types of deliveries,opinions and facts. What did we expect? about the birth? Of having a child? Of her? All this in one appointment, lasting over an hour.

I knew in my heart this was right. The little girl that couldn't watch birthing films and vowed to never have kids was embarking on the amazing journey of natural childbirth at home!

My pregnancy was healthy and my baby grew and grew. Melanie helped me appreciate the growing human inside. We talked to our little spirit and oohed at every kick and turn. As my belly grew, so did my anxiety. But this too was quelled by my wonderful midwife. All my fears of  a baby too big, labor too hard, pain and more were either explained or given the up to the domain of nature . You might be wondering 'what about hubby'? Well, he did his best, which was quite a lot in the realm of husbands. But a midwife. who is also a mother, can ultimately give more reassurance than a man. My husband was at appointments and all the classes, he would be my birth partner. He was indispensable.

My first labor pains came in the middle of the night. Following Melanie's advice, I took a warm shower, did not wake my husband and went back to bed. As my husband got up for work, I informed him of my labor. He said " Call me when you need me." I said " I am in labor, you are staying home!" Ooohh, now he got it.

We called Melanie that morning and she said to make sure to eat well and keep moving. When the contractions are closer call again. By mid afternoon they were closer, Melanie and her assistant arrived.

 My hard labor came in the early evening. With every contraction and push words of encouragement and soothing touch enveloped me from everyone. They literally held me open for the baby to begin to pass. As the baby crowned, Melanie asked if I wanted to touched my child's head before entering this world. "No!" said my inner child! She didn't listen. With the mirror positioned for me to see, she took my hand and had me touch the head of my, as yet, unborn baby. A truly once in a lifetime experience.

With a few more pushes out came my child and up into my arms he came. Two seconds before I had felt sleepy, tired from the days labor. Now I felt like I could run around the house. My son did not cry, He was warm, moist, and velvety. He was 7 pounds and 9 ounces. Not bad for a girl that was about 105 and a size 1 prior to pregnancy!

My husband and I couldn't have planned it better. He got to take the newbie into the kitchen, while the midwife attended to me, and cook me a Mexican omelet. No where else but at home could all this be so comfortable. To me, and my husband would agree, babies born this way are more at ease, they know, and feel the love they are being birthed into. There is is no sanitized environment devoid of any feeling,  no extra bright lights nor machinery. We opted for no video nor photos. A private moment for us to remember thoughtfully.

I have since had five more children. all with midwives and no intervention. Two were at  a birthing center in a hospital, one at a motel and two at home. (One of those was in the dark!) But those are stories for another time. So, I say take charge of your body, your birth and your family. Your family, your children will thank you. Look for a midwife that you like. Don't ask your doctor. And run from those that tell you it is crazy to use a midwife or doula!

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And  now on to the show!

Night Light

Laura Grace Weldon presents Making History Relevant posted at Laura Grace Weldon, saying, "History is always relevant. It’s the quiet reminder found in old buildings, tall trees and important decisions. Here are 25 unexpected ways to make history come alive for your family."

Chaos

Shiloh Stone presents Story in a Bowl posted at everydaygameplan.net, saying, "This game gives kids a chance to show off what they know, while you have the chance to assess their grasp of information. It's a great way to "test" completely unobtrusively."

Vehling presents Thoughts on the World posted at ihopethiswillbeanygood.

In youth we learn, with age we understand. Vehling is still young.

Night Light

Laura Grace Weldon presents Five Ways Frugal Living Benefits Kids posted at Laura Grace Weldon, saying, "Living more simply can give our kids advantages that last throughout life. The benefits include greater self-reliance, improved impulse control, even a boost in happiness!"

Laura lights the candles of many.

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared."

- Buddha

Chaos

Chloe presents How To Organize A Closet: The Ultimate Guide posted at Get Set Organize, saying, "I hope this is OK. Thanks. Chloe"

Tracy Rosen presents Questions about tech and children posted at Leading From The Heart, saying, "Love the idea behind this carnival - if you are looking for a host I'd be happy to host at Leading from the Heart!"

I think that is a great idea, Tracy !

Something smells

Israel Baline presents 30 Amazing Sites for Free Lesson Plans posted at Becoming a Teacher, saying, "You can get help with your lesson plans. While you can spend money for subscription services and materials, there is no need. No matter your salary as a teacher, you can afford some of the resources found online — because they are free."

It's Art

Charles Chua C K presents 10 Essential Things a College Student Should Learn posted at All About Living with Life.

What I do for Eden

Laura Grace Weldon presents The State of Library Addiction posted at Laura Grace Weldon, saying, "Nine perfectly wonderful reasons to become a library addict. Including magic water!"

I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.  ~Anna Quindlen, "Enough Bookshelves," New York Times, 7 August 1991

Chaos

Tracy Wayne presents 10 Tricks for Finding ANYTHING on Bing posted at Dial Up, saying, "A search engine is a search engine is a search engine, and Google is the search engine, or so people think, but there are some features that Bing utilizes that can be used to augment, if not replace, the Google search. Bing touts itself as being a more “intuitive” tool, and uses logical connections to broaden or deepen capabilities. The following points are both for people who have never tried Bing as well as for those people who already use the engine."

Thanks for all the submissions and HAPPY READING! That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of chaos using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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How Much Junk ? Live a Free Life

I came across this and thought " WOW, I am not the only one who thinks this way!"

We try to stay clean and in this world it is not easy.

For This I am Grateful.....

[caption id="attachment_904" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Wild foods, no planting required."][/caption]

Manna --

When the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as hoarfrost on the ground. When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?"...And Moses said to them, "It is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat."....Now the house of Israel called it manna; it was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

-- Exodus Chapter 16 Verses 14-15 and 31, from the Revised Standard Version

For this I am Grateful......

[caption id="attachment_884" align="aligncenter" width="512" caption="My little beauty has a sense of humor!"][/caption]

"If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans."

Woody Allen

Read a Little,Give a Lot

While surfing one day I came across a wonderful opportunity to give to charity and allow the kids to read a virtual library. It is called We Give Books . It is by the Pearson Foundation. Just sign in (not required for donation!) and read! It is that easy.

Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.
- Maya Angelou

For every book you read on-line one is donated to the literacy campaign of your choice. There are six campaigns and when the goal is reached for one another takes its place. We have used this for only a few days and have read 47 books. We support Bess the Book Bus because they give books to kids to take home! This year they are helping get glasses for kids in need.

Bess the Book Bus will give away 200,000 books in 2011-2012 to support the strong correlation between the number of books a child has in their home and their success in school and thus, later life. According to a study conducted by the University of Michigan, 67 percent of low -income families own no books for their children. Where middle-income neighborhoods have an average of thirteen books per child, there is only one book per three hundred in low-income neighborhoods. Bess the Book Bus is intent on bridging this gap in basic resources. The Success is in Sight tour will bring Bess the Book Bus into America's most underserved neighborhoods with the goal of getting books into the hearts and homes of the children that need them the most.

 

You can read as many books as you want or you can re-read the same one over and over. You give with each book finished!

I think that this is the best and easiest opportunity for us to expose our children and ourselves to giving to our community while ensuring a love of reading at home.

I encourage you to go and read just one so that another can benefit!

“The poor and the affluent are not communicating because they do not have the same words. When we talk of the millions who are culturally deprived, we refer not to those who do not have access to good libraries and bookstores, or to museums and centers for the performing arts, but those deprived of the words with which everything else is built, the words that open doors. Children without words are licked before they start. The legion of the young wordless in urban and rural slums, eight to ten years old, do not know the meaning of hundreds of words which most middle-class people assume to be familiar to much younger children. Most of them have never seen their parents read a book or a magazine, or heard words used in other than rudimentary ways related to physical needs and functions. Thus is cultural fallout caused, the vicious circle of ignorance and poverty reinforced and perpetuated. Children deprived of words become school dropouts; dropouts deprived of hope behave delinquently. Amateur censors blame delinquency on reading immoral books and magazines, when in fact, the inability to read anything is the basic trouble.”  Peter S. Jennison

START WEARING PURPLE! Carnival of Chaos

Welcome to the July 1, 2011 edition of Carnival of Chaos!

It has been 2 months since the last carnival. Mothers day and Fathers day are past . Mothers day was originally an anti-war protest but then, as things go, the commercialism took it to new unthinkable guilt trips upon the consumer brain. In honor of motherhood and mothers, look to the link to help out the films ¨More Business of Being Born¨ and advocate for midwives. A healthy start for the entire family, take back a beautiful birth.

Start Wearing Purple! is the song that plays and in the genre of Gypsy Punk. I love this stuff. I sing it to my kids, even though they cover their ears, while dancing around stomping in my gypsy style. Try it, it feels great! I figure it gives good memories of Mom, instead of me at the sink doing dishes.To allow your kids to see you silly allows them to trust you more.

Start Wearing Purple- Gogol Bordello

The local library reading program is in full swing, at least for our family. This year I have two that volunteer to help every week. This is, hopefully, a prelude to work experience. A chance to find out what a commitment means to those outside the family. They seem to relish the time away from the younger siblings, I can only imagine why.....

The gardens are now producing! I love the south!! Fedco Seeds is a great source that deals with small farmers and they have a great service and selection. This year we have Chocolate Peppers, Ho Chi Mhin hot peppers,green beans,sun flowers,borage,tomatoes and more.

As the summer has heated up, we have started fishing at night. It is cooler and the sunsets are quite nice. The littles love seeing the crabs,dolphins and just generally anything that happens while putting your pole in the water.

And we had a Little Brown Bat visit us.Read about it here. It was exciting to be able to see such a sight in the daylight! Nature, WOW!

[slideshow]

And now on to the Show!

Chaos....

Rethink the so called Social media. Popcorn brain is not a attribute of a healthy human.

Kathy Nelson presents 10 Examples of How Social Media Can be Anti-Social posted at Broadband Service Provider

At Bullet´s Brain words are looked at, used and pondered. This post is quite a ride. It may be interesting to read about Moses in the Qur´an - here. I think it relates well to the supposition of God. How about you?

KAZBullet presents What I'm Learning: New Words posted at Bullet's Brain, saying, "In this post, the definition of anisotropy and whether or not God is anisotropic (and what that means for us). Thanks for reading!"

Something smells....

Laura Grace Weldon presents What Movies Tell Girls posted at Laura Grace Weldon, saying, "What do movies (even kids' movies) teach our children? You might be surprised."

This post is aptly put under ¨Something smells..¨! I have also kept a close eye on the films that we watch. It is one of the reasons home education fits the way we live. Read this and look again at the toys you give your child. Recognize why they are asking for the make-up, that particular shirt, what ever the must-have is . I tell my girls and the boys how beautiful they are everyday. It still is not enough to fight ´Popular´ images.

Chaos......



Imagine the year is 2050. Peak oil has come and you are in an urban jungle. Now what? How doyou make life work without what was considered a necessity but is gone without the petroleum industry? It is more real than you might like to to consider but URBANIS has some tips. Read, too, about the Tar Sands at the Sierra club or Greenpeace. Stay informed.

URBANIS presents THE VERTICAL VILLAGE posted at urbanSURVIVALISM.

URBANIS presents PETROLEUM?THE TRUE FABRIC OF OUR LIVES posted at urbanSURVIVALISM.

URBANIS presents ALBERTA TAR SANDS posted at urbanSURVIVALISM.

Mandy presents Pre-Reading Skills posted at Raising Sparks, saying, "What experiences do children need to bring with them on their reading journeys?"

Something smells....

Once again ,Something smells is used rather appropriately. A photographer in NYC shows us how ridiculous the US ´mainstream´ media is. They can make nothing appear to be some thing!

Lionel Martinez presents Media At Ground Zero posted at ZineTv, saying, "What really happens when the media comes to town and who is really the media."

What I do for Eden

Not sure how to help the kids? Read below...

Unconditional love goes a long way!

David Leonhardt presents How to inspire your kids to greatness posted at Self-Help Happiness Blog, saying, "To be able to go on to do great things, children need encouragement and inspiration. A child will try his or her best when a parent’s support is behind them. Sometimes it’s not easy to figure out exactly how to help kids with this, but there are some things you can do that are sure to inspire."

Ann , (again,YEAH!) gives us inspiration to take it OUTSIDE!  I love Dandelions and so do my honeybees. In fact, my Dad even started to mow AROUND them even to my Mother´s

[caption id="attachment_821" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Calendula - Edible and beautiful"][/caption]

dismay!

Ann presents Outdoor Hour Challenge Spring Series #4: Wildflowers-Dandelions posted at Harvest Moon by Hand.

And, again, here is Ms Weldon. A well noted need of parents to remember to try to be gentle. Not easy indeed! I started with my first child  to only say ¨Be gentle¨ never just NO! But by the fourth no was coming out more and more. I still try and when those moments have disintegrated into mayhem we regroup,hug, kiss and apologize. I once heard for every bad comment to a child give them at least ten good ones. (the #s may be wrong but the sentiment is there)

Laura Grace Weldon presents Gentle Nurturance=Gentle World? posted at Laura Grace Weldon, saying, "There’s a connection between harsh treatment of children and harsh societies."

Besides how can you stay mad at a face like this..

Thank you all for the wonderful submissions! Great reading!

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition(probably in September) of carnival of chaos using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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A Renewed Boost for Mothers and Midwives

A new set of educational films need financial support to make them available .

 

 “More Business of Being Born” is our new series of four  films that deepens the conversation about childbirth options, supporting every woman’s right to empowerment and accurate information during the birth process.   We’ve also completed a 28-minute Classroom Version of “The Business of Being Born” with a comprehensive study guide to reach younger women in University settings.

This is where we need your help.  We’ve made these films with a microscopic budget, once again funded out of our own pockets.  The original filmmaking team has worked for free, but we’ve come as far as we can on our own.  We made these films because we wanted women to question the established business of birth – the idea that every birth is an emergency requiring doctors, painkillers and myriad medical procedures. We’ve reached the conclusion that a healthier birthing process means healthier babies and healthier moms; however, our films can’t have any impact if they are not seen. We need a budget to promote and market these videos, to make sure that they reach as many expectant parents as possible. To acquire that budget, we need your help.

To help go here

This is a great endeavor. to make available the knowledge of options and remove any myth of doctor and midwife in the process of birthing. Use a midwife!

IISA Makes his first Banana Bread!

IISA got up at around seven AM and started mashing bananas. ¨This is for you!¨ he said with his sparkling blue eyes.
¨Did you take care of your bed?¨ asks Dad.
¨Yes¨
¨Then you can make what you want.¨

So he did. Mashed banana , sugar, milk and egg. Zeda helped by the addition of flour. Recipe? IIsa  just knows!

Into the oven it went. One hour, 350 degrees. Out came a very nice banana bread. Not too sweet either.

He and his siblings enjoyed it the entire day.

Never can tell what they will do next.

Carnival of Chaos! April 2011

Wow! This has been a very busy Spring and what a wonderful turn out for the carnival! I have to say I hate spam but the decision to keep truckin´ on  has paid off. Thank you all so much for the submissions!!

Since it it spring here in the south we have already planted parts of the garden. Sorry , Yanks. But our days have been in the 70ś  , so in go the tomatoes! We are also working bees and our first attempt at raising queens. Nothing could be more ¨educational¨ for the children than helping with these endeavors. We learn more each time we plant a seed or open the hives. 

The migrations are on, too. Hummingbirds, Monarchs, worms, and more. Don´t forget to plant something for the bees!!!

[caption id="attachment_588" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="It is spring! Worm migration"][/caption]

Add to that all the current events of the world, makes for a full plate of erudition. Do you know what an Alpha particle is? How far and fast radioactive particles can travel?

Welcome to the April 2, 2011 edition of ...........

[caption id="attachment_315" align="alignright" width="179" caption="Click Here!"][/caption]

 

Chaos

Chris Brandon presents Hello World posted at BreakSolid.   A new site with an old perspective. Implementation  and distribution of knowledge as well as overcoming the chasm of mainstream media needs to be addressed.

We all need outdoor time and especially the children. Ann shares one of her activities for winter. Ann presents Outdoor Hour Challenge Winter Series #9 Mammals and #45 Squirrels posted at Harvest Moon by Hand.

[caption id="attachment_591" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Can you name these tracks?"][/caption]





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Hambleton Bishop, MA presents Chaos is the result of resisting what is | Thoughts from a Therapist posted at Thoughts from a Therapist, saying, "chaos and resistance"

I love this submission! Chaos defined? And yet we are given thoughtful contemplation of our individualness in the world. ¨The Tao of Pooh¨ was my favorite book in college and helped me on in life. Is rejecting what is, the same as resisting what is?



Richard Tyler presents The N-Word, Huck Finn, and Racism in Society posted at Live Your Way, saying, "This is an article about racism in society today, the good, the funny, and the informative."

As a transplanted Yankee, I have come to see many sides of this issue. Everyone has a reason for using, or not, the word in question. I, however, can not imagine Twain´s work without it.

What I do for Eden

Read Aloud ... Dad presents The Secret How To Become A Read-Aloud Ninja posted at Read Aloud Dad, saying, "Do you want to become a Read-Aloud Ninja? I never knew they existed until yesterday. The word "ninja" in kanji script  Like any martial art, you have to perfect your technique if you aim to master the art."

Thanks R.A.D.!! My Dear Old Dad  read to us every night he was home.(Firefighters are home only four nights a week)We had a chair in the room just so he could read for more than a few minutes. Alice in Wonderland, Arabian Nights, Aesop´s Fables, The Charge of the Light Brigade are just a few of the writings he read. He also told stories without books, tales like the Three Pigs and the like.



Danette presents Make Your Child Laugh: The Developmental Stages of Humor :: Help! S-O-S for Parents posted at Help! S-O-S for Parents.

My eldest, Griffin, just yesterday said that his favorite sound in the world is Abdur Rabbi (4yrs) laughing!



Socratez presents Why Knowledge Is Essential To Live Your Life posted at Socratez Online.

If you can learn anything it should be that there is ALWAYS more to learn!

Something smells...

Tara Forte presents Top 30 Ghost Blogs posted at Forensic Science Technician, saying, "While ghost hunting shows display cheesy scenes of lamps being knocked over and too many people shoved in a room looking for an”experience,” ghost blogs do the exact opposite, creating an intimate storytelling environment the reader can be sucked into for the moment, no matter what they think about the afterlife."



I always liked Ghost stories around the campfire.

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Copy and Paste

Subject: Nuclear disaster in Japan

Hi,

The disaster unfolding in Fukushima, Japan is a terrible reminder of the dangers of nuclear power.

Right now the President has $36 billion in taxpayer giveaways to the nuclear industry to build more plants here in the US in his proposed budget. Join me and tell the President and your members of Congress that there is no place for taxpayer giveaways for nuclear energy in this year's budget. Just click the link below...

http://us.greenpeace.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=801&s_src=taf

CARNIVAL OF CHAOS ! 2-03-2011

Welcome to the February 3, 2011 edition of carnival of chaos.

Chaos

Morgan Schwartz presents After Millard South's tragic shooting, who is to blame? posted at Just a Thought...by Susan Baird, saying, "After the terrifying shooting at Omaha's Millard South High School, Susan Baird asks, "Who's to blame"? Addressing at-risk youth & teen depression isn't easy - they are issues that we must solve together: as parents, teachers, neighbors......"

Something smells....

Oliver Wang presents 40 Fascinating Blogs for the Ultimate Statistics Geek posted at BSchool.com.

Some funny ways of seeing the world. Look for the Liberry.

Chaos

Danette M. Schott presents Invisible Children with Tender Hearts posted at Help! S-O-S for Parents, saying, "Article is about how mainstream society rejects those who act strangely or differently. Perhaps we need to ask what could be causing this behavior, rather than automatically attributing a negative interpretation to it."

Thanks Danette!

This same sentiment can be used in many of life's situations. If you see a family that does not have appropriate outdoor gear,ask if you can help. Do not assume anything other than neighborly concern can help. The police or child welfare are not neighborly concern. An offer of a coat, blanket or heater is! The Good Samaritan aided the man himself. Besides , who controls what is considered NORMAL except ourselves.



Ehrich Weiss presents 21 Excellent YouTube Videos to Learn About Chemistry posted at Masters in Chemical Engineering, saying, "Chemistry is a fascinating subject. It is such a far reaching subject that you truly can always learn more. Those who study chemistry for a living are never without further ground to cover."

I hope soon to do a post on Linux,but, those who use Linux have an enormous world of educational tools at their disposal for FREE!



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Summer's lesson

My parents are in their eighties. They were fairly active thru their seventies. Then my Dad, the healthiest of the two began to decline much faster than anyone would have thought.

My Dad was a NYC Firefighter in the sixties, seventies and eighties.( Engine 82 & Ladder 31 among others ) A real hero. But Dad did not like ,or trust, doctors or dentists. Mainly because of  the lack of economic compassion . He let his teeth go and ended up with many small seizures or strokes. All added up to limited walking and an Alzheimer kind of thinking. Thoughts in his head but can't make the words come out right.

Last month,(June 2010) Mom broke her hip. I live 1300 miles from them and my brothers. I was the last to find out the situation. When I did my family, all eight of us, decided that this was the time to go help Mom and Dad. Not an easy decision. Besides all the goings on of life, my Mom had been quite vicious to us in the past, with the help/complicity of my siblings she was allowed her version of truth unquestioned. Regardless, through the years we made constant efforts so the children would know their grandparents. We seemed to achieve a relative peace.

Upon our arrival, I found my father in a condition of neglect. Disheveled, unkempt hair and nails and unwashed. This is what my brothers called allowing Dad his 'autonomy'. I was amazed that anyone could let him stay in this condition. Within a day we had him trimmed and washed and cleaned up. His spirit was visably regenerated. Every time I saw a need in his personal hygiene I asked him first and then helped him in accomplishing the task. Some how my brothers mixed up the ideas of autonomy with neglect. My mother still in the hospital, my brothers had been sharing the duties of my Dad. And yet they fought the idea of my returning home to help out. "We don't want Dad confused" and "The kids will be too much" were some of their concerns. My brothers have children too but mine were regarded differently. Justly so, I guess. I talked to my children about their DA, about how they can and should help and how the interactions of myself and my brothers affect decisions in our life. My brothers thought this information classified,"not for children".


From the moment we showed up Dad knew who we were. In fact , the first thing he said to me was "What took you so long!". Pop even recognized my husband. The kids love their DA and would sit with him and be his aide as much as kids can.

My husband left after a week to return to his job. We knew that this could be a long term arrangement but my father is my husband's friend . This is what we want for ourselves and others; love, encouragement, help, and friendship. I was alone in a crowd.

My Dad is probably the most important figure in my life. He is who I measure others by. His influence colors much of how I see the world. To see him dismissed in conversation while in the same room by my brothers was devastating. All I could think was 'how did we grow up in the same house'.  They would treat him like a child or neglect him in the name of autonomy. When I was 'caught' getting him into bed so he would not be on the edge I was scolded. "WE don't PUT him to bed"  and when I explained he was on the edge I was again given the complete autonomy rule.  Safety and comfort was not in the plan though because until we arrived (July) the air conditioners had not been installed! We installed the downstairs and basement machines. My brothers did Dad's room at this impetus, complete with extension cord coiled next to Pop's bedside! My bedtime routine became simple. Since I was the care-giver for Dad during the day, as well as my own kids, I let my fifteen year old son stay up with Pop till bedtime. Some nights he went early some late, my son just had to be there 'in case'. I was in the next room if needed. However, even this was to be disparaged by my siblings as not good enough. Autonomy be DAMMED!


I was truly amazed at how well Pop could still get around and converse even when his mouth would not cooperate. He looked great with his daily grooming. He would let me shave him every other day. Wash him everyday and even had a rinse for his mouth. He had pains in his legs that with a homeopathic cream disappeared. He seemed to enjoy being clean, who doesn't?  Pop would doze as I washed his face with rose water. His diet was varied and I had a hard time keeping the treats he liked in the house. He has a voracious appetite! He can almost run around the house, even though walkers are made for floors Pop can manipulate them for grass.

Finally it came time for Mom to come home. That's where it ends. My mom could not bear the thought of  me and my kids in her home for anything more than a visit. Her house, her things could not be changed or moved. This was inevitable with me in the house (not leaving ).Even so much as moving the TV so Pop didn't have to negotiate a second set of stairs. She was coming home to a full time job, my Dad, she could not do. She was limited in her mobility due to to her hip and no one but me had offered to move in to help. She said no. I tried to explain that if I did not stay a paid care giver would be needed. That they may only qualify for a very small amount of time. This was her decision and not so remarkably the boys did not interfere.

I explained that a return trip, if needed, would not be possible in my financial circumstances. My husband, while angry about leaving his friend without his daughter, said that we knew Mom would be the biggest advocate or obstacle. So, I informed the children that we would be going home. And amazingly enough ,only at the end of  a month there did I find that two of my five brothers were in favor of my staying, they couldn't help enough because of their own family situations. Failing health, autism and in-laws all being factors. But it is and was Mom's decision.

I've been back for a while now. My anger is now more pity and sadness. I send pictures and call Mom. Dad can't talk on the phone. But I get to say I love him. Mom sounds tired and I am sure she  is. What I can do is learn to not worry about the things in my life but the people. My home is where people care about me and for me. The Qur'an says that sometimes the thing that we dislike  most is the thing that is best for you. Mom isn't sure she believes in God. I Do.

When Your Kid makes you Proud

Today started normally enough, kitchen a mess, kids sleeping late, and laundry. Everyone eventually was up to their own thing. Outside with friends. Somewhere.

About 1pm my husband went back to work. Sirah comes in crying that the police were at the football game. The game is a pick up of 4-7, 10 year olds on the lot across the street. I assure her all is fine and she is over doing it. I walk to the back of my yard, intending to just call in my crew but I see that Griffin, my fifteen year old, is in a stoic defensive posture. I am on my way!

I cross the street as my neighbor is just getting the first questions of a plain clothes cop."These your boys?"  There only two now and they are both mine. " Mine" I say. Idries , 10, looks red in the face and a bit scared. The cop, outside his vehicle, carries a badge, gun and tazer on his belt. He tells me that Idries was being beat up by the other boys and when he tried to question Idries (10) Griffin told him that he was fine. Just a football game.  He tried to ask more questions but Griffin told the cop that neither he nor Idries had to answer any questions! YEAH!! I told the officer that Griffin was correct and did not have to answer anything. Our neighbor called over his son (the alleged attacker) , all 60 pounds of him. The man with the gun confirmed this was the one doing the harm. By the way , Idries' best friend at the moment. But this was not the problem. The problem was Griffin's "attitude" and "back talk". His responsibility shown in asserting his rights.

This is our civics lessons in REAL LIFE!

Now, the cop never tried to hold those doing the "beating". He questioned the assault from the car but when his authority was denied he got out. Here is the best part, he called for back up. That's right, when confronting a fifteen year old that knows his fourth and fifth amendment rights and group of ten year old footballers, Pascagoula's finest calls for a squad car back up!

My son called his father when he saw the cop call for back up. The squad car with a uniformed gun toting man showed up and a second gun was at the scene of a kid's football game.Within ten minutes we were both there to back up our son. The officer was quite agitated and said that" Fine! Next time I'll let them get beat up!".

Griffin was never disrespectful. But he demanded his rights. This is what we teach him. It is very hard to do when the person in front of you has the ability to end your life in an instant.

I am very proud of my son!

 

Questions: So why didn't the cop just tell the kids to stop being rough?

Just stopping to say 'what's happening' without the power trip would be enough.

"Hey guys, that looks more like a fight than football!" is usually enough for any commotion. Why not?

The Supreme Court did not specify the exact wording to use when informing a suspect of their rights. However, the Court did create a set of guidelines that must be followed. The ruling states:

“

...The person in custody must, prior to interrogation, be clearly informed that he or she has the right to remain silent, and that anything the person says will be used against that person in court; the person must be clearly informed that he or she has the right to consult with an attorney and to have that attorney present during questioning, and that, if he or she is indigent, an attorney will be provided at no cost to represent her or him."

Carnival of Chaos 2011!

Happy New Year 2011! Welcome to the Carnival of Chaos where everyone is welcome.

For this edition submissions were few. The spam box was full and needed to be emptied regularly. As daunting as this chore is , most things start small and the weeds need to be picked.

[caption id="attachment_475" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="The Path Not Taken"][/caption]

 

For myself , this new year will be a year of calm and acceptance. I will teach myself that not all messes are to be cleaned up by me and not all clutter is bad! I have to remember that anyone with six kids at home ALL THE TIME will have clutter!

[caption id="attachment_477" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="six! count 'em!"][/caption]

 

And now to our Carnies!!

 

 



Welcome to the January 4, 2011 edition of carnival of chaos.

Read

Charles Chua C K presents Be Smart Be Knowledgeable posted at All About Living with Life We all need an admonition from time to time. Mr.Chua reminds us to be lifelong learners.





Danette M. Schott presents Help! S-O-S for Parents | Parental Involvement—the Cure for the Summer Slump! posted at Help! S-O-S for ParentsWhile it is not summer, I'm sure the Holidays can use these tips!

[caption id="attachment_479" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="apple by idries"][/caption]



Pascale Michelon presents The Top Brain Book Collection for Educators and Learners | SharpBrains posted at SharpBrains. Take a look! These are fun and sure to keep you active.





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Our Day Out

[gallery]

We found a great spot in MS to explore. The river is navigable and the beach is sandy! I forgot to reset the date on my camera so the date is YEARS behind. We love being out in nature.

Watch The Business of Being Born online -

Watch The Business of Being Born online - Watch Movies Online, Full Movies.

This should be in every high school health class. Home birth and midwives are not out of the ordinary but extraordinary! The so called main stream birth and neonatal care needs to be seen for what it truly is, a business with only the bottom line in mind.

All of my six children were born with midwives. No C-sections or episiotomies. It makes a difference in the mother as well as the child. I'll post again with the studies that site the benefits of natural birthing. The Foundation for the Advancement of Midwifery and the Midwives Alliance of North America are good places to study your options in the care of you and your pregnancy.

Don't Eat the Fish...

Why?

Because they're spoiled!




Parts per million sound small but consider this The Environmental Working Group has put it into perspective for all of us. Small amounts DO make an impact. We are part of the food chain , the food web or whatever term you choose to use. What we eat , breath and touch  effects us. I live in the Gulf region and am angered each time I see that there are those who would want us to believe it is o.k now. It clearly is not.

This video on toxins should inspire us to try to live more simply and give our children a chance at living a healthy, God given life.

Kill your T.V.! And your Video Game System Too!! ( Or Take Back Your Child)

• Lately, my husband and I have been watching TV on the internet. We generally reserve our computer for other tasks and an occasional " treat" of Gilligan's Island for the kids. But  as I like to put it, 'sometimes I don't want to think'.  TV achieves this. We do not have the big black box in our home. Not two ,not one. I don't miss TV and I hate ads. This has unfortunately become part of internet TV as well.



• 

  Is the TV holding you hostage?

  As part of the TV generation of the 70's, I cringe when I see the current selection of "entertainment". The vast array of nothingness is packaged so as to appear as something. I do remember my DAD saying something similar about the shows we watched. Maybe I am getting old..... or maybe he was right! It does seem though that the menu is filled with shows about violence in one form or another. Everybody is fighting . "Cupcake Wars" ,"Hell's Kitchen", "Big Brother', "Bachelorette" whether you want to cook cupcakes, run the kitchen, or meet Mr. Right you need to fight for it. Is this who we are? Is competition so fierce in the cupcake industry? Or did some corporate shill know that if he put a pot of gold in front of us he could conjure up the most duplicitous and obnoxious behavior? Not only was this shill right but there are those of us ready to show this behavior to the world.To say nothing of all the shows about crime, CSI( 3 versions), Criminal Minds, 48 Hours Mystery and more. All find the criminal due to the wonderful police force. Not the same police that beat down protestors or racially profile or help convict the wrong person.


• This is not what I want my children, or myself, watching. We, like it or not, become calloused to such behavior when we see it repeatedly. In the programs this behavior is rewarded, so what's the message to our brain? There are studies that the brain activity is different when watching a documentary.  There are subliminal messages in the shows that can 'help' us become better consumers. And then of course, there are commercials that tell us who we SHOULD be and How to get there. If we buy enough we will be HAPPY!




• What really concerns me is the content of video "games". They are nothing more than virtual murder/rapist training camps! This is not play and to even think that it is would be to convince yourself that the Earth is flat. Why would anyone put this virus in their home let alone the hands of their children?!?! I do not want my family to be numb to violence, oppression,or immorality.


• 
  

  After recent Pentagon research revealed that the desire and intention to enlist is highest among younger recruits (six in ten current US soldiers entered the military as teenagers),1, 2, 3 a level of subtlety, or rather subterfuge has been employed to guide teens toward recruiter offices. As one example of the many available: the US Army sponsors a website labeled “eCybermission.” It offers “web-based science, math, and technology competition” for 11, 12 , and 13 year olds, and the services of on-line uniformed Army personnel “CyberGuides.”4
  
  Since 2002 the Pentagon has developed a massive teen data base gleaned from sources, including records obtained via the “No Child Left Behind Act.” That information is filed in JAMRS, the “Joint Advertising and Marketing Research & Studies” system – a giant Pentagon run, privately subcontracted (Equifax) database containing contact and identification data on over thirty million 16-25 year olds.5

  
  


• Personally, I don't even watch the commercials. It is not something I want in my head. That said, I am one of the 1 in 10 that watched the Wiki-leaks Video of the killing of children in Iraq. This is real. It is reality that has REAL consequences. Why not set you and your family down and watch the real thing?  Because we, as parents, shield our children from the hard facts of life until they can understand them better. So when I read of parents that allow unrestricted TV or video games, I cringe at the human they are producing. Even Disney does not produce a show without the ability to market all aspects of it to your child. They are in your house , they are part of your life.

• CHILDREN


• Approximate number of studies examining TV's effects on children: 4,000
  
  [caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Who's Raising Your Child?"][/caption]


• Number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful


• conversation with their children: 3.5


• Number of minutes per week that the average child watches television: 1,680


• Percentage of day care centers that use TV during a typical day: 70


• Percentage of parents who would like to limit their children's TV watching: 73


• Percentage of 4-6 year-olds who, when asked to choose between watching TV


• and spending time with their fathers, preferred television: 54


• Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 hours


• Hours per year the average American youth watches television: 1500

VIOLENCE

Number of murders seen on TV by the time an average child finishes elementary school: 8,000

Number of violent acts seen on TV by age 18: 200,000

Percentage of Americans who believe TV violence helps precipitate real life mayhem: 79

Millions of Americans are so hooked on television that they fit the criteria for substance abuse as defined in the official psychiatric manual, according to Rutgers University psychologist and TV-Free America board member Robert Kubey. Heavy TV viewers exhibit five dependency symptoms--two more than necessary to arrive at a clinical diagnosis of substance abuse. These include: 1) using TV as a sedative; 2) indiscriminate viewing; 3) feeling loss of control while viewing; 4) feeling angry with oneself for watching too much; 5) inability to stop watching; and 6) feeling miserable when kept from watching.

"We can now say with utmost confidence that regardless of research method -- that is experimental, correlational, or longitudinal -- and regardless of the cultures tested in this study [East and West], you get the same effects," said Anderson, who is also director of Iowa State's Center for the Study of Violence. "And the effects are that exposure to violent video games increases the likelihood of aggressive behavior in both short-term and long-term contexts. Such exposure also increases aggressive thinking and aggressive affect, and decreases prosocial behavior."

I don't think we decided to take our children out of the mainstream public education to hand them over to corporate strangers to educate and raise. But this is what unrestricted viewing is. So are you going to let a shadow raise your children? Plan what they see. Control your eyes, control your reality. To truly think outside the BOX turn the Box OFF! Better yet, throw it out.